Leader: Reading Buses in the same boat

Newsdesk • Published 10 Sep 2009 10:00 Comments 1 Comment

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THE plight of Reading Transport will be familiar to many companies battling the recession - the relentless struggle to find savings while facing mounting costs and customers who themselves are looking to spend less.

It is a tough environment in which to run any kind of business, and whether we are through the worst of it or not yet at rock bottom is still a matter of dispute.

Even in the gloom however, there are stories of far-sighted businesses who have taken a deep breath and dared to keep an eye on the future. They have dared to wear their shorts in a storm and will be best placed to enjoy the sunshine when the clouds lift.

Reading Buses, as a municipal company, has a duty to tax payers in Reading. It has a duty to be well placed to pick up, carry on and thrive when the recession is over.

The current strategy of cutting services, slashing jobs, selling buses and hiking-up fares means not only that the company is alienating passengers at the very time it needs their support, but when things do pick up, it will be from a worryingly, and hopefully not irretrievably, low base.

As difficult as it is to think in the long term when facing weekly losses amounting to thousands of pounds, the fact is that the recession will pass, and it is those who have taken the truly brave decisions who will prosper.

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David Miles
Unregistered User
Nov 2, 10:44
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We are pensioners (still working part-time at 68) who will have no choice but to retire soon and give up our car. We are about to move to Spruce Road in Woodley. We chose this address because it is on the 63/64 bus route which for us provides public transport access to the following –

1 Our doctor, chemist and Tesco Local store at Loddon Vale Plaza

2 Our dentist on Headley Road

3 The Library and Community Centre on Headley Road

4 The Woodley Precinct shops (without having to climb a substantial hill to reach them)

5 Our daughter living off Hurricane Way on the airfield.

6 Our daughter living in Lunds Farm Road (near the stop in Tippings Lane).

7 Our grandsons, who go to Waingels Copse School, can take the bus to us after school.

Under the proposed new services we will lose access to ALL of the above, which means we are committed to a move that will, in time, leave us isolated.

But apart from ourselves, the majority of people living in the area bounded by Loddon Bridge Road and Colemansmoor Road/ Redwood Avenue will also lose 1, 2, 3 and 4 above, and if they have children between 11 and 18, they will lose 7 as well.

Has anyone in authority actually looked at the old and new routes marked up on a map of Woodley, to see how isolated from the community areas of Woodley, people in the above area would be?

Another important benefit of the 63/64 route is that it is circular in both directions. This means that people can not only go to those places mentioned above – they can also get back. This will not apply to some sections of the proposed new routes.

Can there really be sufficient saving to Reading Buses to warrant cutting a link of approx half a mile between Vauxhall Drive and Miles Way, denying so many people of public transport to the necessities of life?

If Reading Buses really can find no other option, then we sincerely hope that a solution will be found with Woodley Town and/or Wokingham Borough Councils taking the necessary steps to preserve the 63/64 route.

David and Rebecca Miles, (at present at 30 Bideford Close, Woodley, Reading RG5 3SE)

Email: David.miles73@ntlworld.com

Tel: 07720 135 126

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