Re-routing No 66 bus to Winchester Mark Jackson, operations manager of Stagecoach has stated that: "Service 66 will have an enhanced frequency, with buses running half-hourly during the daytime. I am confident this latest enhancement will provide improved connectivity, meaning customers can meet with family and friends, access leisure and health services, or simply do some shopping, ensuring the bus remains an attractive travel option.”

Whilst the increased frequency is an improvement, the new route has cut off a whole section of bus stops along Cupernham Lane, Woodley Lane and Richmond Lane.

My wife and I, both have mobility issues and the 66 bus has been a vital means of transport for us to and from Romsey.  Living as we do, in Woodley Lane, we now have a choice of three possible bus stops, namely:

Viney Avenue – which is at a distance of 0.6 miles – 13-minute walk.

Abbotswood Community Centre 0.5 mile – 10-minute walk

Hodinott Close, Abbottswood, 0.5 mile – 12-minute walk

These details have been obtained from Google Maps, and their ‘walking times’ are based on able-bodied people, for us, those timings would be doubled,  although we would probably be unable to walk that far.

I have made a complaint to Stagecoach registering our strong objections to the route changes, copied to our parliamentary candidate and former MP Caroline Nokes and Cllr Neil Gwynne.

Stagecoach only issued an immediate auto acknowledgement, there has been no reply from Cllr Gwynne. 

Ms Nokes sent a helpful reply. She said: “These changes are cutting off access to a significant number of Romsey residents. It is the service many rely upon to get to Winchester for medical appointments, etc.”

We ask that Romsey Town Council and TVBC exert on Stagecoach to re-route SOME of the services via Woodley Lane.

Ian Whatmore,

Woodley Lane,

Romsey

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