Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has met with East Sussex County Council’s Director of Children’s Services Alison Jeffery, to discuss the impact of a reduction in bus services in north Wealden on parents and schoolchildren.
A commercial service between north Wealden and Tunbridge Wells has been withdrawn by the operator after it had been identified as not commercially viable. There are currently no plans by either Kent County Council or East Sussex County Council to provide a replacement service. This has created great concerns for parents living in Holtye, Blackham and Groombridge areas, as this service is regularly used by schoolchildren and provides a vital transport connection to school provisions in Tunbridge Wells.
Nusrat has convened this meeting to bring the concerns of Wealden parents to Ms Jeffery's attention and to encourage the Council to continue working towards finding a solution.
Nusrat Ghani said: “I would like to thank Ms Jeffrey for taking the time to discuss the issue and consider the concerns of local parents who have contacted me regarding the matter. I am keen to continue working with East Sussex Council in finding a solution. I welcome the news that East Sussex County Council has received £41 million of government funding to help improve bus services across the county and I would like to encourage the Council to consider the needs in north Wealden when decisions about supporting individual routes as part of this package are made.”
