To allow members to have their view and put forward comments for the consultation.

The chair of the Committee thanked Councillor Gerrish, Councillor Stewart and residents from both villages for taking their time out to attend the site visit on the 12 September.

The Committee was informed that the site visit started at Gifford’s Cross Road car park. The following observations were noted whilst on the site visit at Fobbing:

•           Gifford Cross car park was the closest bus stop to Fobbing and was also the closest Doctors, ATM and Chemist.

•           The location was a significant distance from Fobbing and had a steep hill.

•           It was noted that pathways were overgrown and drains were blocked.

•           The seven bus stops on the Fobbing route was a good indicator of the topography and distance.

•           Elderly and vulnerable people living in Fobbing felt that the bus was their only means of transport to the hospital, doctors and shopping as taxi prices were seen to be too expensive.

•           The walking distance from Fobbing to the Five Bells roundabout was very long and the crossing of the road towards Basildon was seen as dangerous.

•           The 374 and 100 bus service used the same route to Basildon from this area and the 200 uses part of the route; both bus routes were run by different companies.  The chair of the Committee was also informed that buses would race each other to get ahead and pick up the passengers waiting, leaving the remaining bus with no passengers.

The chair explained that the site visit then moved on to Horndon on the Hill and the following notes were made:

•           Two people had left the village as they could not use the current bus service.

•           Residents felt the 265 service was not fit for purpose as the first bus left at 9:30am and there was no service on a Saturday.

•           It was hard to identify that there was a bus stop, this confused residents.

•           The 265 was unsuitable for those disabled but not in a wheelchair as the steps on the bus were too high.

•           There was no access from Horndon on the Hill to Orsett Hospital via bus.

•           The walk to the nearest bus stop was long and hilly and the footbridge was difficult for the elderly or infirmed.

The chair informed the Committee that the annual parking report was on the agenda for the Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny this municipal year, it was added that the Civil Parking enforcement made a profit of £182,000 and that this was likely to continue as it had a business-like approach in place. The chair explained that the use of any surplus income from Civil Enforcement is restricted to transport related issues like the operation of public passenger transport services. It was commended that the Civil Parking Enforcement surplus income and monies from other departments who spent money on travel costs in rural areas be utilised by the Transport department to assist the rural bus provision.

The Committee urged that the issues were looked into holistically. Councillor Gerrish thanked the chair and agreed to look into the proposed comments.

The chair suggested that every other hour one bus from the 100 service diverted into Fobbing, it was added that a similar programme would also work for Horndon on the Hill. The Public Transport Manager explained that the 100 and 200 bus service was managed by a commercial company and that they would not reroute.

Councillor Kerin requested to see an objective measurable way to address the priority of the bus services, officers confirmed that this would be provided.

Resolved:

1.         That the Portfolio Holder and Officers note the comments made regarding the Fobbing and Horndon on the Hill Site Visit. The chair of the committee thanked Cllr Gerrish, Cllr Stewart and Residents from both villages for taking their time out on Saturday to attend the site visit.