Bus problems in southern Witham could be solved by improving an existing service, according to a public transport watchdog.
Elderly and disabled residents around Maldon Road and Howbridge Road have complained they are marooned without public transport, since First, the bus company, axed the number 39 service which served the south of the town.
Now Witham Town Council is looking into providing a new town service with central Government funds from the Urban Bus Challenge scheme.
Its plan is that six buses a day would run between 9.25am and 1.30pm along Howbridge Road, Laurence Avenue and Maldon Road through the town centre and on to the railway station and Safeway store in Braintree Road.
But David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association said it would be better to expand the existing service 90, operated by Hedingham Omnibus under contract to Essex County Council, which currently runs six times daily roughly every two hours.
Nick Blackal, Essex County Council's contracts planning officer, confirmed the possibility of expanding route 90 to replace route 39 was being investigated.
Published Wednesday August 21, 2002
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