Your feedback - The results
6 Sep 2024
Yes! We have successfully reached 102%
The volunteers from Buses in Fleet would like to thank all our friends and the residents from our local and neighbouring communities for supporting our campaign for a new bus service. The first part of our campaign has has been a success as we have reached an impressive 102%
What does a 102% really mean?
As a part of our campaign we calculated and compared the costs of running a bus to determine how many passenger journeys were needed to sustain a new service without the need for any local authority subsidies.
During the past year we have shared news about our campaign and reported our progress, based on the calculation of the total passenger journeys received through feedback/expressions of interest, as a percentage. We have now successfully exceeded our 100% original target!
The numbers
The first stage of the campaign successfully gathered the evidence in support for a new bus service. As of the 31st August 2024 we have received a total of 3,459 responses from local residents supporting our campaign for a new circular bus service, running in both directions, between Church Crookham, Elvetham Heath, Fleet/Train Station, Ancells Farm, Yateley, Darby Green, Blackwater, Frimley Park Hospital and Farnborough.
The results of the campaign also revealed that responding local residents were collectively prepared to make a total of 50,791 individual journeys per month.
The majority of responses still supported a timetable frequency of every 30 minutes
The results of the campaign also revealed that 64% of responding local residents wanted to see zero emission buses on this route.
The results of the campaign also revealed that 78% of responding local residents would support a community based alternative - operated by the community for the community, if local commercial bus operators decided not to consider our proposals.
What’s next for our campaign?
The next stages include: Approaching local bus operators for the purpose to analyse results and consider our proposals based on the collated evidence from the campaign. Once we have found a customer focused bus operator, further consult and involve local people to help develop either a fixed or demand responsive bus route and timetable.
We also plan to ask Local Councillors and MPs to investigate why Hampshire County Council, despite the overwhelming evidence, continues to ignore the feedback from 3,459 local residents and refuses to include our campaign within their Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
Furthermore, due to the recent change in UK Government we will also need to investigate and navigate our best way forward through new transport strategies and policies, which could include municipal operated buses and franchising.
Feedback suggestions serving other destinations
Since the launch of our campaign we have also received feedback from residents suggesting other bus service improvements or new direct services serving other destinations from the Fleet and surrounding area, these include:
- Aldershot & Farnham (96 responses)
- Hartley Wintney & Reading (80 responses)
- Camberley, Bagshot & Bracknell (61 Responses)
- Hook & Basingstoke (28 responses)
- Guildford (7 responses)
- Sandhurst & Crowthorne (5 responses)
- Odiham (3 responses)
- Gibraltar Barracks (2 responses)
- Zebon Copse (2 responses)
We will still continue to welcome feedback suggestions for improvements or new routes serving other destinations within our neighbouring communities. However, for these ideas to have a fighting chance of success, each suggestion will need a separate campaign with its own self-sustainability target.
Unfortunately, at this time we still do not have enough volunteer support to run multiple concurrent campaigns for the above suggested routes. However, with the help from more volunteers we could make a start! Please contact us if you would be prepared to help out as a volunteer.