90 year old pensioner struggling and mother and child waiting for a cancelled bus!

As I travel around Taunton and speak to passengers, I am constantly reminded of why I and the TBUG and Somerset Bus Partnership are here and the value of the work we do to raise awareness of challenges users and potential users face everyday in Taunton and across the county. Yesterday, whilst reviewing the conditions of our bus shelters and facilities, I came across a mother and child awaiting for a bus that had been cancelled for 2 months! She had been waiting for 20 minutes, with the impression the bus was just late and it would come eventually! I told her the service stop running on the 20th April and she was surprised and upset as how was she now going to get to town. Luckily some changes to another route meant that there was a bus to the rescue  but 30 minutes after she had waited. There was no-one else at this stop although there was evidence that it had been used as a drinking den, and I spent my time taking the rubbish to the nearby bin. In another passenger I meet a 90 year old lady from Eaton Crescent who used to walk to catch the No2 from Tesco's and since its withdrawn now has to walk to the station, although there is a nearer bus stop, but there is no seat. She said whilst the weather is good I will carry on walking to the station to catch the bus, which is her lifeline, but went the weather changes I not sure what I will do, probably stay at home over the winter. As I am typing this I moved to think about the impact of what appears to be arbitrary cost savings has such a massive impact on those who are less able to speak up. The lady was so grateful that we are raising awareness and amplifying their and your voice. these are just two of the many passengers affected by the challenges of town bus network and I reaching out to everyone to help raise these issues of those who feel abandoned in Taunton and those who want to have a choice. please sign today and pass onto your friends. David Northey TBUG and Somerset Bus Partnership