Angry residents blast transport officials over bus route

Angry residents were given the chance to voice their concerns to transport officials at a public meeting about the axing of an important bus route.

The service, which ran through Old Hill, Cradley Heath and Quarry Bank to Russells Hall Hospital, was ended earlier in the summer.

Officials from National Express and Centro attended the public meeting at Birch Coppice Methodist Church in Quarry Bank along with Councillor Bryan Cotterill.

The representatives outlined plans for a replacement bus service but both residents and Councillor Cotterill say they are not happy as the route does not go through to some important stops such as Russells Hall Hospital.

Janine Willetts, of Bath Road, Brierley Hill, who was a regular user of the service, said: "We know that running a bus service is expensive, but we were told that the old 297 service costs £100,000 to run, and then they were telling us that the new 289 service which they want to put in will cost £125,000. Where is the sense in that?

"I would like the old service back but I don't care what they call it as long as it goes to the right stops. There are a lot of vulnerable people around here who are old or disabled and the changes will just leave them without a service.

"I just think that if there are so many people complaining then listen to them."

The replacement 289 service will be in place by November 30.

Another resident, Mary Rousell, said: "About a fortnight ago I went to Russells Hall for a blood test but a round trip that should have taken me less than an hour took me two because I had to go up to Merry Hill and then wait for another bus.

"There is not a bus which goes straight to the hospital any more and that is my concern. We have a lot of elderly people who use the service who find the getting on and off buses very confusing.

"We just want our bus back."

Babs Coombes, Centro's Black Country area manager, said: "The concerns were around frequency of buses in this area. The new 289 service will run along here which will re-instate the service the residents had before.

"The route will not go through to Russells Hall Hospital however we are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to get a connecting service to the hospital."

Councillor Cotterill said: "I think the meeting has been a success as it gave the residents in the area another chance to let the representatives know what they think.

"The fact is the new service, whilst it does provide transport to Merry Hill and other stops, doesn't take the residents anywhere near Russells Hall Hospital which is a major problem.

"You can walk to Merry Hill and you can make a choice to shop anywhere else - but you cannot walk to Russells Hall."