Campaigners fail in cemetery bus plea

A campaign for a bus route to serve Streetly Cemetery and Crematorium has failed after transport bosses ruled that it was not necessary.

Complaints were made over the distance from the site to the nearest bus stop earlier this year.

People claimed that it was difficult to get to the site without a car.

Campaigners contacted passenger transport authority Centro to look into the issue but it has now ruled there is no need to introduce or divert a bus because an existing service stops just over 650ft from the cemetery.

Blakenall ward councillor Pete Smith, who spearheaded the campaign, said he was "extremely disappointed" as some elderly and disabled people struggled with the distance.

Councillor Smith said: "It's quite a way for people to walk if they have difficulty walking.

"Older folk have told me it can be a bit of a struggle," he added.

"I was optimistic they would be able to come up with some solution.

"I'm extremely disappointed."

He urged anyone with concerns about the issue to contact him and added that he would continue pressing to find a solution.

An overspill car park opened last year after complaints about drivers leaving cars on grass verges, ignoring double yellow lines and blocking the road off Little Hardwick Road.

It was installed as part of a £1 million raft of improvements.

Centro spokesman Mark Langford said a bus had run next to the cemetery in the past but the service was axed in April 2008.

He said the 56 service, operated by Diamond, which runs between Birmingham and Brownhills, stopped too near the cemetery to consider redirecting another bus or launching a new route.

He added: "The last service to operate travelling past the cemetery was the 113X but it was withdrawn in April 2008 due to poor usage."

Anyone with concerns can contact Councillor Smith on 01922 491925.