This petition calls on East Sussex County Council to work with Stagecoach to maintain the current half-hourly bus service between Hailsham and Tunbridge Wells.

Many locals from Heathfield rely on the 51 Stagecoach bus service to Eastbourne as it's a more energy efficient and cheaper way to travel. Taking the bus is also an accessible way for elderly, disabled and people who don't or cannot drive to travel. However, Stagecoach have announced that they will be changing the bus route and altering the bus frequency from half hourly to hourly from Sunday 30th March! This is not ideal for these groups if they have to wait in the cold for an hourly bus service- especially as it's frequently late!

If things change, we can keep our half-hourly service, making it easier for people to travel! Please take action now so the company hears the voices of the people as they do not respond to complaints about their service!

One evening two years ago, I was commuting back home from the Eastbourne DGH bus stop as, I am a student who solely relies on the bus. My 51 bus, which was due at 3pm, didn't turn up for two hours that evening. I told my mother what happened, she sent a complaint to Stagecoach and they didn't respond. This was not the only instance of the company not responding to complaints- another was during the autumn of that year where there was flooding at the Heathfield High Street bus stop- there was no information prior to me leaving the house on their website stating there would be diversions due to the flooding- I waited an hour and a half waiting for three consecutive buses to Eastbourne in the pouring rain that November, none arrived and I went home freezing cold, soaking wet and very cross. My mum complained to Stagecoach about this incident and the lack of information on the website- with no response.