Bus Route Celebration - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Bus Route Celebration – LEIGH campaigners enjoyed a stylish trial-run of revived bus routes set to link Leigh to Southend Airport.

Bus Route Celebration - LEIGH campaigners enjoyed a stylish trial-run of revived bus routes set to link Leigh to Southend Airport.

LEIGH campaigners enjoyed a stylish trial-run of revived bus routes set to link Leigh to Southend Airport.

Belfairs non-aligned councillor Stephen Aylen, LibDem councillor for Eastwood Park Paul Collins and guest, The Mayor of Southend, as well as 50 passengers, rode the 1961 Guy Arab double decker bus as it set off on its journey from Leigh station on Wednesday March 26.

The bus was provided by Canvey’s Island’s Transport Museum, for the victorious ride that marks a significant point of progress on a seven-year campaign to see the disbanded routes reinstated.

On the day, the bus ran the proposed route of the 23A through to Southend Airport, passing Coombes Corner, Woodcutters shops, Progress Road, and Rochford Corner, all the while adding a touch of nostalgic charm to public transport for the day.

Coun Steve Aylen commented: “We had planned to run into Southend City Airport but, due to the bus being an old lady, she had a little tantum!

“So, we switched to the 23B route arriving at the Launch Pad Centre on the airport industrial estate, only one minute behind schedule, before a return run back to Leigh station.”

Coun Aylen, who has been campaigning for decades to get the rote up and running, claims the new route will not only link Leigh station to the airport, but provide an infrastructural boost to the whole area.

He said: “This new link route also links into 22 established bus routes where interchanges can take place, allowing residents to travel anywhere they wish.”

He added; “It has taken 20 years with many knock backs, but thanks to our excellent council staff and, if it’s an indication of the support on this day, will this time be up and running very soon.”

Coun Paul Collins said: “This brings together communities that don’t have a service and brings roads into the bus network for the first time in years.

“It will also allow people to travel from Leigh, and for the first time ever, it will offer public

transport into the Airport Business Park.

“Commuters, college students and all residents will be able to travel to the Airport Business Park without having to use their cars – it will also mean people going on holiday can reach the airport without having to park.”

Following the allocation of funding for the new routes, the plans will go to tender, with councillors hoping for a July launch.

Government funding from the Department of Transport contributes to the plan, which will cost approximately £450,000.

He added: “Although the council is promising these routes, we want them to have a commercial future.”

Picture: Councillors with the 1961 double decker at Leigh station.

REPORT BY SOPHIE SLEIGH-JOHNSON

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