First should improve link (From Braintree and Witham Times)

First should improve link

4:32pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Regarding the planned termination of the 352 bus service: this is a poor decision when First should be doing the opposite – improving the service so more people are inclined to use it.

I commute daily to/from Chelmsford from Halstead. The car journey takes 35 to 40 minutes. The present 352 service is not an option as it takes one hour 15 minutes at least because of the circuitous route it takes – precisely the reason I don’t use it, other than when absolutely necessary.

Lots of Halstead residents make the same journey as me daily and, like me, would consider public transport if it was a viable option, ie: an express link between Halstead, Braintree and Chelmsford.

If the service were restructured in this way, it could make money.

There remains a need for a bus link, perhaps outside of commuter hours, to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. I have made this point to Essex County Council before, to no avail.

Forget green credentials and customer service, this is just purely an ill-thought-out business decision. I hope a contractor comes to fill what, to me, is a gap in the market.

ROGER TAYLOR

Larks Rise, Halstead

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