Save Our 333 Bus Service

11.38.48pm GMT Sun 28th Jan 2007

Stansted Liberal Democrat councillors Alan Dean and Anne Marchant are pictured with passengers on the 333 bus.

Local residents (148 to date) have continued to contact Councillor Alan Dean to complain about Excel bus company's plan to abandon the 333 bus service from Stansted Mountfitchet to Epping via Bishops Stortford and Harlow. The service is a lifeline to local residents who don't have cars because it serves 3 local hospitals.

"Once again local people are being dumped in favour of the airport. Excel prefers to compete against other bus companies for passengers from the airport than serve residents to get to the hospital and shops," said Councillor Dean.

A meeting of the Uttlesford Transport Forum heard that poor standards of service by Excel and cut throat competition for airport business had led to this vital link for local residents of Stansted being abandoned within days.

"I have still not received any positive response from Essex County Council', continued Councillor Dean. "I am pessimistic because no one at County will tell me anything of substance. The portfolio holder for transportation, Cllr Rodney Bass, keeps everything so close to his chest it's impossible to tell local people what to expect."

"Essex County Council are doing a poor job at supporting bus services in Uttlesford and the community around Stansted. They can't even get timetables installed properly on bus stops."

"Now is the time to stop the rot," Alan Dean summed up. "The bus demonstrators with their poster 'SAVE OUR 333' said they want a SAVIOUR. Essex County Council should be that saviour."