Disabled demand better bus services

7:23am Saturday 26th July 2008

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Campaign group Calne Area Transport has launched a campaign for better bus routes.

The group, which successfully campaigned to get National Express to stop in the town, wants better links between Devizes, Melksham and Trowbridge.

The group also wants better disabled access, especially on the number 33 Chippenham-Devizes bus run by travel operator APL.

The company has just announced it will be putting one low bus on the 33 route in the next two weeks but the group says that all the buses should be low level.

CAT member Mary Grey, 69, of Curzon Park, Calne, has to pay for a taxi to Devizes in order to attend the Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Club in Devizes.

"Because the number 33 is too high off the ground, it is impossible for me to get on it," she said.

"I have to pay for a taxi every week and it just feels like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am wheelchair bound and don't drive.

"If this bus ran properly I would be able to have much more of a social life and feel like I have more freedom.

"I used the Wiggly Bus before it became Connect but now you need to book a day in advance.

"This is a terrible misuse of resources because often the bus is now empty because people just don't plan their days in advance."

Disabled group member Dorothy Lewis, 76, who lives in Derry Hill, also complained about the number 33 bus.

She said: "I am registered disabled and use a stick and it is very difficult to get on the number 33 to go to Devizes.

"Also the frequency of the buses is atrocious. One every hour is just not good enough.

"My husband goes to adult education classes in Devizes and is very difficult for him to use this service."

Travel company APL, which has run the service for Wiltshire County Council for six years, confirmed it would put a low bus on the 33 route in the next two weeks.

Owner Alan Legg said: "I feel terribly sorry for those less able bodied people who find it difficult to get on the 33 bus and we are making every effort to make all our buses disabled friendly.

"Around 60 per cent of our fleet have disabled access. Unfortunately we will not be making this service more regular unless we get more funding from the county council."