“It’s sick” – that’s the verdict from a passenger as a bus service between Reading and Caversham is set to be axed.
Reading Buses has announced that the Number 22 service running between the town centre and Caversham Heights will be cancelled in five weeks.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Caversham to speak to people about the announcement.
Laurence Berks was severely critical of the decision.
He said: “It’s nice of them to spring this on us now!
“Back in 2018, Reading Buses did a massive consultation through Reading Borough Council, and there were lots of public meetings about them basically wanting to axe nearly every route in Caversham, and the 22 was top of the list.
“They saved the 22 at that time, then COVID came, and it has been on life support ever since, and now it’s finally come to pass, but why the hell couldn’t they have given everybody a bit longer notice? It’s sick, it really is sick.
“Give people three months’ notice.
“It would have been nice if the council had told us.
“I’m just sick of the whole affair.”
Mr Berks mentioned the X40 bus by Thames Travel, which runs between Reading and Oxford via Caversham.
He said: “They’ve got this X40 one that runs for about a third of the route of the 22.
“The problem is that the two ticketing systems are not synchronised. So if you’re a Reading Buses customer, you can’t travel on the X40 and vice versa.”
Mr Berks is a vocal member of the Older People’s Working Group, a forum run by the council.
Caversham resident Hester raised concern about the impact the cancellation will have on her neighbours.
While the X40 goes through Upper Woodcote Road in Caversham, it misses Woodcote Way, Conisboro Avenue and Albert Road, which are served by the 22.
She said: “I know that the Oxford bus covers a lot of Caversham Heights, but there’s still areas that aren’t covered.
“It doesn’t affect me directly because I live locally to the other buses.
“I know lots of people up there in Caversham Heights who are going to be really badly affected.
“It’s mainly elderly people or disabled people who don’t drive, and then they’ve got a really long way to get to an alternative bus stop.
“There’s this belief that everybody who lives in Caversham Heights is well off and can go and afford a taxi or something, but it’s not quite true.
“For my own personal purposes, I’ve got a choice of other buses from where I live, so I can only really talk on behalf of other people.”
Tony Shepherd, who is a dual Canadian and British citizen, is currently staying in Caversham Park Village, and was spotted sitting down near the Alto Lounge in Church Street.
He said: “I rented a car last Thursday. First time driving on the left-hand side.
“I found it all right. I’ve had no problems!
“I get a free bus pass.
“If I come into Caversham or if I go into Reading, I’ll take the bus.
“For Caversham Park Village there are two buses, the 23 and the 24.
On the cancellation of the 22, Mr Shepherd said: “It’s crazy, really. But I mean, if the numbers are that low, I guess they [Reading Buses] want to save money, right?
“That is too bad.”
A couple were also spotted at a bus stop in Hemdean Road.
The man said: “We don’t live locally. We live in Reading.
“Over there, it’s quite good. We have good connectivity.
“Cancelling a bus won’t be a good idea, I think, because a lot of people rely on the bus for their daily commute. I use the bus to go to work.”
The number 22 service is set to end on Monday, July 20.
