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Transport Group Meeting Notes 10 March

41 bus from High Wycombe to Great Missenden

With thanks to John Cadman, Transport Group Leader for GMPRG.

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To review the membership and objectives of this project group, please visit our Current Projects – Community Transport Group page.

In the light of recent developments, the purpose of this meeting was to revise the scope of this group and to agree next steps.

Recent developments include:

  1. Recent Government announcements about HS2 approval, plus 6 billion pound investment in bus services, plus the increasing public awareness of green issues makes this a good time to proceed.
  2. Written support for our objectives from our local MP with regard to facilitation of funding and other matters.
  3. Steve Burns, very experienced local bus operator, will advise the group where he can.

Revised Scope/Objectives

  1. “Peak” and “Off-peak” solutions will be considered separately since they are different models.
  2. School Transport provision and Parking solutions are out of scope.
  3.  A survey will be conducted to obtain evidence of demand for the viable options available, along the lines of the original objectives above. This is expected to be conducted in May/June. It will be predominantly on-line via GMPRG.
  4. The group will attempt to recruit extra people with public transport expertise to take this forward.
  5.  Sources of funding from HS2 and the Government Bus initiative will be investigated.

Comment/next steps

The previous meeting in November concluded that progress on improving our very poor local bus service via Arriva alone will not happen and therefore the emphasis should be on alternative solutions.  However recent Government announcements make this a good time to re-visit improving the bus service as well.  The intention is to consult the public on what they would use via a survey.  This will be targeted at commuters using Great Missenden station and as many local residents as possible.  It will be heavily promoted via Great Missenden and Prestwood Village Associations, Great Missenden Revitalisation Group, The Source, GMPC and other local notice boards etc. It may also be beneficial for residents in outlying rural localities to promote the survey to ensure their needs are being covered, especially for off-peak needs.

This group has the support of GMPC and Bucks CC members, including Public Transport, and local village Associations. Now is the time to get wider public support for achieving the objectives. Without that support, nothing will happen. That will be the focus of the next steps.

  1. PVA, GMVA, GMPRG to campaign for extra experienced people to join the group as soon as possible.
  2. Circulate proposed survey questionnaire to interested parties for comment.
  3. Obtain approval from GMPC and Chiltern Railways for the survey to be conducted.
  4. Conduct the survey in May/June, assuming Corona Virus and HS2 works do not prevent this.
  5. Peter Martin to investigate funding opportunities via Government initiative and HS2.
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Transport Project Group Update

41 bus from High Wycombe to Great Missenden

To review the membership and objectives of this project group, please visit our Current Projects – Community Transport Group page.

An initial meeting has been held with Arriva to explore ways of improving local bus services. This was then followed by a meeting of the Project Group to review the situation and decide next steps.

  1. The initial Arriva meeting was very disappointing. Arriva is not prepared to invest in the current Route 41 to High Wycombe. It does not consider that there is the demand, even though Great Missenden is a significant transport hub into London.
  2. The subsequent meeting agreed to explore the following.
    a. Community Bus – Age Concern mini-bus possibly available for a 3-month pilot scheme using GMPRG volunteer drivers.
    b. Dial-a-ride – could their vehicles be utilized because Dial-a-ride vehicles used for daytime appointments only.
    c. Car share schemes
    d. Local existing transport providers eg. taxi firms, Red Eagle buses, PACT etc.
  3. Several members of the Group have looked at Community Bus schemes in the past. Nearly all are daytime schemes whereas our focus is Commuters/Schools at peak times.
  4. A meeting was arranged with the local Dial-a-Ride, who were very willing to help if possible but concluded that they are unable to do so.
  5. A further meeting was held with Community Impact Bucks. They are able to provide advice on Community Bus Schemes based on the experience of existing schemes in Bucks, but again mainly daytime.
  6. Steve Burns, formerly of Carousel Coaches and still close to local public transport kindly advised on the scenarios to consider.  The costs, legislation, insurance, the need for paid drivers and a coordinator were highlighted as being very challenging.  Also, the Age Concern Minibus is not compliant.

WHAT NEXT?

A meeting of the Group is planned for November to consider next steps.  It is evident that the financial and human resources needed to implement significant change will require very significant investment of money and people.  Therefore, the meeting will focus on how this can be achieved.

John Cadman
Group Leader