Anger at unwanted Fox Cub services using estate
RESIDENTS of Pyeharps Road, Burbage, are planning to apply for rate reassessment following almost a year of campaigning to stop the Midland Fox Cub minibus service running past their homes.
The residents object to the frequency of the buses and claim they endanger children, invade their privacy and that the service has devalued their property.
“The first thing we said was that we didn’t want the bus service to Burbage to stop but we think there’s got to be a better route than through Pyeharps Road,” said Mr Terry Cooke of the Pyeharps Road Action Group.
Burbage Parish Council carried out a survey to find out the views of the people in the village on the bus services, and at a public meeting, representatives of the bus company said the bus could be re-routed through Salem Road if the council agreed.
But councillors decided if the bus went through Salem Road people living on the part of the route that would be missed out would be deprived of a service.
Mr Cooke has already applied for rate reassessment and his hearing will go ahead in May. He says that other residents are likely to do the same.
“The service has devalued our property – nobody would have bought a house knowing there are 80 buses a day through here,” said Mr Cooke.
The residents were initially angered in May of last year when a leaflet informed them that the bus service would be starting up the following day.
Mr Cooke went to all of the 32 houses in the road and got up a petition and contacted Sir Adam Butler who pledged to give the residents his support.
But as they have been unable to get the minibuses re-routed Mr Cooke is hoping to get a reduction in his rates and to continue to try and get something done to improve the present situation.