Campaigners call for bus route to start earlier

Campaigners said a bus service that ran earlier between Peterborough and its surrounding villages was much needed

Campaigners have called for a bus service that is routed through a number of villages to have an earlier start time.

Route 27 from Peterborough to Stamford, which serves Wittering, Wansford, Castor and Ailsworth, currently operates from 07:30 Monday to Saturday.

Julia Cunnington, who is one of the campaigners calling for the change, said: "People and students are struggling to get to work or King's School or Peterborough College as the bus arrives in Peterborough too late for them to make it to where they need to be."

Stagecoach East, which operates the service, has been contacted for comment.

Route 27 was decommissioned in 2019 but reinstated last year, following a local campaign led by villagers and supported by Nic Johnson, the former mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Before being withdrawn, the service included a stop at King's School, Peterborough, as part of its route into the city centre and ran at an earlier time in the morning.

The R4 bus between Peterborough and Uppingham, which was previously run by Rutland County Council, was withdrawn earlier this year after being deemed financially unsustainable.

People who used the bus route were told they could use the Callconnect on-demand bus service, which covers towns and villages across north-west Rutland and north-east Leicestershire.

Ms Cunnington said: "Callconnect can only be pre-booked and doesn't always fit with people's schedules."

Jean Jackson, who lives in Wittering, said: "It's very difficult. If you have an early appointment, there's absolutely no way to get to Peterborough in time.

"You either have to book Callconnect or pay for a taxi."

Route 27 operates four times a day between Peterborough to Stamford while stopping at the surrounding villages

Ms Cunnington said a recent community survey about making the Route 27 earlier received more than 200 responses, including from more than 60 students from King's School and Peterborough College who rely on the bus daily.

"There's clear evidence of demand for an earlier and more frequent service," she said.

Both Ms Cunnington and Ms Jackson have also called for the reinstatement of the bus stopping at King's School.

Gavin Elsey, a Peterborough First Group councillor on Peterborough City Council, has backed the campaign.

"It was fantastic that campaigners managed to get the bus reinstated and to see how well used it has been since," he said.

"However, the current timetable doesn't serve the whole community. An earlier service is essential."

Elsey said that while the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority played a key role in reinstating the service, further support was needed.

"We still need their help to make the service effective for all users," he said.

Paul Bristow, the mayor Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: "I am aware of the campaign and understand that well-timed public transport is vital for our villages and supporting people to get to work, school and appointments.

"The Combined Authority is looking forward to meeting with the residents' group to understand their views in more detail."