More needs to be done to give some areas a fair deal

I WISH to put columnist Geoff Ford straight when it comes to local buses (March 19).

For the reason many are running around nearly empty is due to Covid, and the reduction in passenger journeys caused by Government restrictions and the continual mantra of telling people to avoid public transport wherever possible. Buses are also limited into how many people they can carry because of social distancing regulations. So a half-empty vehicle may be full under the new set up.

Geoff quotes official statistics saying that 68 per cent commute by car in the UK, reckoning the figure must be nearer 90 per cent here in Grimsby. But this will exclude the many children and young people going to school or college who don’t drive, as well as the retired making essential journeys, just not to work. Such individuals are among the many who rely on buses, with not everyone being able to afford a car. That’s why we need good public transport so that people aren’t disadvantaged when looking for jobs, with many of the industrial estates like Europarc having a bus service that is far from ideal. Indeed the No 1/2 that goes there, as well as through the West Marsh, has no service on either evenings or Sundays. The same applies to the No. 7 to the Grange

Estate, and the No. 12 to Bradley Park. So when Johnson (he’s not one of us, so I don’t see why I should use his Christian name) announces more for buses I do listen, even though I seem to have heard his message before.

And given the lack of investment in the bus industry over the years, I feel much more is required to be done if the residents of those areas mentioned are to get a fair deal. What with no planned return of Grimsby’s bus station and the continuing closure of the Riverhead Hub, I do think the words from the current occupant of No. 10 are rather hollow.