Neighbours have grilled the council over its bus company’s decision to axe a service between Reading town centre and Caversham.
This month, it was announced that the number 22 Reading Buses route between the town centre and Caversham Heights will end on Monday, July 20.
The decision was made by Reading Buses, which is owned by Reading Borough Council.
Passengers have grilled the council during a question-and-answer session at a recent meeting.
Juliet England said: “I rely heavily on the number 22 service and hold a concessionary pass due to being hard of hearing, for which I’m very grateful to the council.
“I’m not aware of public consultation to assess the impact that the proposed withdrawal of this route will have on local residents, particularly those who depend on it for essential journeys.”
She then asked the council to commit to expanding the notice period ahead of any cancellation and ensure a full consultation and impact assessment is carried out before any final decision is made.
Answering her, John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for transport, replied: “The withdrawal of the route 22 service was made by Reading Buses rather than the council, and is therefore not subject to a public consultation.
“The public consultation is intended to inform the council of public opinion prior to making decisions for which it has authority over.
“In this instance, the council is not the decision-making organisation and therefore not able to alter the decision of the bus operator as the result of a consultation.”
Reacting, Mrs England said: “This is wrong, cutting the service is just wrong, I’d urge the council to do whatever it can to exert maximum pressure on Reading Buses.”
Tracey Haralambous said: “For many residents living off Hunters Chase in Caversham Heights, including me, the alternative bus routes would involve an uphill walk of 20 minutes, far in excess of the standing planning guidance for an acceptable walk for a bus stop in urban areas.”
She then asked whether the decision could be reviewed and an accessible bus service be maintained.
She was supported by councillors Isobel Ballsdon and Saadia Saadat, both Conservative representatives for Caversham Heights.
Cllr Ennis said: “I totally understand the frustrations that you are raising”, but was unable to arrange an economically viable alternative.
Earlier, he said the decision is “very regrettable”.
The answers were given at the policy committee meeting yesterday (Monday, June 15.
Cllr Saadat said: “Residents were not happy with the answers, it seems they have already decided, although if the council is the owner of the bus company, how can they not fix this?
“They haven’t done an equality impact assessment.”
She then encouraged people to fill out a Conservative online survey on the scrapping of the 22.
Cllr Saadat said: “For me, I want to understand how people will be impacted.
What will people do if this closes?”
She and cllr Ballsdon are set to meet Robert Williams, the CEO of Reading Buses, tomorrow (Wednesday, June 17).
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, also has an online survey, and cllr Jenny McGrother (Labour, Caversham Heights) is arranging a meeting about it.
