Campaign Update

I know it's been some time since we’ve posted any news. However, although our campaign was unfortunately rejected by the county council, the few volunteers we have left have all been working very hard and remain determined to move our campaign to the next milestone.

The reason we are still so committed is because, elsewhere in Hampshire, we've also been told by campaigners in the Knightwood area (near Chandler’s Ford) that they will lose both their local bus services and community transport links at the end of this month, leaving those who rely on public transport completely isolated. We don’t want to see anyone left isolated, nor do we want to see our own and neighbouring bus services suffer the same fate.

However, we are not alone. Other campaigners and concerned residents across various communities in Hampshire also feel that their voices are not being heard. We've even heard that residents as far away as Somerset and Yorkshire are experiencing the same frustrations.

The current system does not appear to take into account the views of local residents and bus users and this needs to change nationwide! We believe that local people are the real experts on their own journey needs and should be provided with the tools and support to create community-led solutions for a better bus future. That’s why we’ve been quiet, busy working on a new resource and platform that will empower and amplify the voices of our communities.

This new resource and platform will also help us run future campaigns more efficiently and effectively. We’ve also received requests from local residents to start campaigns for new or improved bus services between:

• Fleet, Aldershot & Farnham
• Fleet, Hartley Wintney & Reading
• Fleet, Camberley, Bagshot & Bracknell

To successfully launch these suggested campaigns, we urgently need more volunteer support, especially to help share updates and messages on social media. If you’re able to help, please contact us as every single effort makes a difference. Sadly, without this support we will be unable to start these additional campaigns and we risk losing what little bus services we still have.

We are also networking with other campaigners and concerned residents through Hampshire. The next Hampshire Bus Action Group (Ham-BAG) meeting will be held online at 7pm on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025. Please contact us if you would like to join the meeting or volunteer.