Sunday bus service axed in Middleton

The eastern section of the Stagecoach 60 route to Templesheen Road in Elmer is being axed on those days from September 19.

The decision means the Sunday journeys to Midhurst and Chichester will begin and end on Bognor Regis High Street.

Middleton Parish Council clerk David Allsopp said: "Parish councillors are obviously disappointed the Sunday 60 bus service will cease from September 19 as it will leave Elmer and Middleton with no buses on Sundays.

"The nearest bus service will be the 700 bus. However, people will have to travel to Flansham Park to catch that bus.

"While it is not that far from Middleton shops. it is a considerable distance from Elmer Sands, particularly if you are elderly.

"While it is unfortunate the axe has fallen on our local Sunday bus service, I am sure it will not be the last to suffer the same inconvenience as the financial screw continues to tighten."

The axeing of the 18-minute section of the route through Felpham and Middleton to Elmer will leave the end of the route unserved by public transport for the first time for some 20 years when the present hourly Sunday network was set up.

Three years ago the 60 route's evening and late-night Sunday services were chopped to leave the current eight journeys to Midhurst a day and one to Chichester.

The Sunday services are completely funded by West Sussex County Council. A council spokesman said: "Stagecoach are unable to operate to time on Sundays, particularly during the summer, because congestion has been increasing.

"The county council and Stagecoach have had to make a decision about how to solve the late running.

"The options in this case are to either increase funding and pay for another vehicle, at the cost of tens of thousands of pounds a year, or alter the route so that it can run to time.

"The number of passengers using the Elmer end is not very high on a Sunday, and while we appreciate the value those using the bus put on it, the county council doesn't currently have the resources to fund the additional vehicle.

"The 60 will therefore terminate in the High Street on Sundays only, which will give the necessary extra minutes to make it reliable."

A council spokesman said the council's subsidy would stay the same and the service's frequency would remain untouched.

The 60 route's weekday and Saturday evenings journeys from Bognor to Elmer would also remain, he said.

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