Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council is launching a public survey in a bid to assess whether there is enough local demand to justify the return of a bus service to Havenstreet.
The village has been without a bus service for 10 years, and councillors say they are regularly approached by residents keen to see public transport reinstated. The upcoming survey will run from Monday (4th August) to Friday (15th August) and aims to gather views from both potential users and non-users of a regular service.
Chairman of the Parish Council, Tony Barry, has said:
“It’s ten years since Havenstreet lost its bus service. Councillors are often urged to get our bus back.
“This survey is the first step in establishing the demand for a bus or other public transport service. It will give us the evidence we need to lobby the Island Council and Southern Vectis to get the village back on the bus service map.”
The survey will be delivered to every household in Havenstreet by parish councillors and will also be available online via the Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council website.
Councillors say they hope to continue working closely with the Isle of Wight Council and transport operators to carry out network reviews, with a focus on rural areas, to help identify the most suitable and financially sustainable solutions for villages like Havenstreet.
I’d love the Isle of Wight Steam Railway to consider a park-and-ride service, where passengers leave their car in Ryde and board a vintage bus that would take them to Haven Street, picking up people along the way, just like a regular bus service. The bus would continue to Newport and possibly Cowes before returning to Ryde, through Haven Street.
That would be ideal during the school holidays,
might not be profitable the rest of the year.
Last time they had a bus service no one used it. Not cost effective so highly doubtful that the council are going to fund it. Same with the number 6, locals cried out for more services and they always run nearly empty..