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High hopes for hospital bus service
A FREE hospital shuttle bus service operating in Stockbridge could be extended to Romsey if a senior Hampshire councillor gets his way.
Deputy leader of HCC and Romsey Extra division's member, Roy Perry, said he was monitoring how the well the pilot scheme operating between Andover War Memorial Hospital and Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital worked.
If the service is a hit with people at Stockbridge and district, Mr Perry says he will be putting pressure on authorities to introduce a similar bus in Romsey.
Mr Perry said: "I shall be watching this free hospital transport experiment in the north of Test Valley very closely. If it proves successful, I shall be pushing for something very similar in the south of Test Valley, from Romsey to Southampton General Hospital and the Royal South Hants Hospital."
The hospital bus, where passengers have to prebook a seat, is a partnership between Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council.
Most of the cash to run the Monday to Friday service has come from the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust.
The Ford Transit bus, which has wheelchair facilities, is owned by the county council and the service is operated by Liphook-based AMK Chauffer Drive Ltd.
Information about the free-to-use bus has been distributed to parish councils, GPs, chemists and other outlets in the area it operates within.
Stockbridge Parish Council leader, Janet Whiteley, said the bus service, which in on an 18-months' trial, is a good idea and should help people in rural areas without their own transport.
Cllr Whiteley said: "In my view, it's a very good idea to divert the service through rural areas on the road from Andover to Winchester. It does offer very good facilities.
"I would like to see GPs in Stockbridge being more proactive and advise patients to use the service. If it doesn't get used, we will lose it. If it is successful, I would like to see it extended in other rural areas.
"Someone at Longstock has already commented that they have to drive or be driven into Stockbridge to make the onward journey to Winchester."
To book a place on the bus, would-be users must call 01428 751530 before 3pm on the day before a planned journey and the line is open Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Hampshire's cabinet spokesman for the environment, Mel Kendal, said: "This is great news and improves accessibility for patients who can't or prefer not to drive themselves. The county council is very pleased to support this service during the trial period, which I am sure will be welcomed by users."
8:44am Friday 22nd August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mellow, The Greyhound having lunch on 10:16am Fri 22 Aug 08
Perry's success record as a champion for bus travel is the kiss of death.
Perry's success record as a champion for bus travel is the kiss of death.
Posted by: Sir Royston Wello-Perry, Romsey on 12:39pm Fri 22 Aug 08
Seems like everytime my namesake is mentioned, mellow, wellow follows like a rat following his nose. Like to see him try and do better, as he certainly has a fixation of some kind.
Seems like everytime my namesake is mentioned, mellow, wellow follows like a rat following his nose. Like to see him try and do better, as he certainly has a fixation of some kind.
Posted by: Mellow, Ashamed to live in Wellow on 4:39pm Fri 22 Aug 08
You are fully entitled to your high opinion of the Perry's and Nokes.
My opinion is they are a pathetic self opinionated egotistical family who are only interested in making money from petty politics. How anyone can think that Nokes has any credentials or persona to represent the Conservatives in Parliament must be nuts.
Unfortunately the apathetic electorate just can't be bothered to challenge these jokers.
You are fully entitled to your high opinion of the Perry's and Nokes.
My opinion is they are a pathetic self opinionated egotistical family who are only interested in making money from petty politics. How anyone can think that Nokes has any credentials or persona to represent the Conservatives in Parliament must be nuts.
Unfortunately the apathetic electorate just can't be bothered to challenge these jokers.
Posted by: Louis on 9:09am Sat 23 Aug 08
People have such short memories in politics. It may not have been free, but we had a half hourly bus service from Romsey to the Royal South Hants Hospital up until the end of last year and I am sure most people would have happily carried on paying for it. Will I be able to pre-book the mini-bus to the Royal South Hants at 6.15am and walk the extra distance to the station so I can get to work? Just because something is free HCC it does not guarantee our votes.
People have such short memories in politics. It may not have been free, but we had a half hourly bus service from Romsey to the Royal South Hants Hospital up until the end of last year and I am sure most people would have happily carried on paying for it. Will I be able to pre-book the mini-bus to the Royal South Hants at 6.15am and walk the extra distance to the station so I can get to work? Just because something is free HCC it does not guarantee our votes.
Posted by: Victor Meldrew, Romsey on 3:38pm Mon 25 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Mellow[/bold] wrote:
You are fully entitled to your high opinion of the Perry's and Nokes. My opinion is they are a pathetic self opinionated egotistical family who are only interested in making money from petty politics. How anyone can think that Nokes has any credentials or persona to represent the Conservatives in Parliament must be nuts. Unfortunately the apathetic electorate just can't be bothered to challenge these jokers. [/quote] Well why don't you get off your backside and do something about it then, rather than constantly moan all the time. That way, you will get your point of view across.
Mellow wrote:
You are fully entitled to your high opinion of the Perry's and Nokes. My opinion is they are a pathetic self opinionated egotistical family who are only interested in making money from petty politics. How anyone can think that Nokes has any credentials or persona to represent the Conservatives in Parliament must be nuts. Unfortunately the apathetic electorate just can't be bothered to challenge these jokers.
Well why don't you get off your backside and do something about it then, rather than constantly moan all the time. That way, you will get your point of view across.
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