Bus Route Questions

Leigh On Sea News: Bus Route Questions – ONE of our readers recently wrote to the Leigh On Sea News with the following: “I am writing to ask whether your publication received any notification from Southend City Council regarding the recent installation of new bus stops and the apparent introduction of a new bus route, or changes to an existing route, through Leigh-on-Sea.
“Over the past week, several new bus stops have appeared along Eastwood Road. However, having reviewed Southend City Council’s Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) and the Enhanced Partnership documentation, I have been unable to find any reference to Eastwood Road.
“Both documents appear to describe proposed improvements at a strategic or corridor level, rather than identifying specific residential roads or individual stop locations.
“Residents were not notified in advance of these works, raising questions about how the public was intended to receive information about these changes. I would therefore be grateful to know whether the council contacted your paper to publish any statutory notices, press releases, or other public information relating to these changes.
“I would like to stress that I support public transport and welcome investment that improves services and accessibility for residents.
“However, the BSIP indicates that approximately £29,760 per stop is allocated for the maintenance and upgrade of existing bus stops. Given the appearance of additional stops in close proximity to existing ones, it seems reasonable to ask whether this represents the most effective use of limited public funds or whether a greater benefit could be achieved by investing elsewhere in the community.
“In addition, residents have raised questions about whether introducing additional bus stops along an already busy section of Eastwood Road could worsen existing congestion, particularly at peak times, and whether any site-specific safety assessments were conducted.
“Given current traffic conditions, there is concern about increased stop–start traffic, vehicle overtaking behaviour, and the implications for road safety.
“In light of the lack of advance notice to residents and the apparent absence of street-level detail in published transport plans, this may be a matter your paper would wish to investigate, particularly in relation to how decisions were made, how they were communicated, and how public value was assessed.”
The Southend City councillor, responsible for Public Transport, Coun Paul Collins, who is also the Liberal Democrat Group Leader, ward councillor for Eastwood Park and Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Investments, responded with the following statement: “I cannot verify the sum quoted, I will have to check this.
“However, I wish to make it clear that the service being agreed with First bus, is an enhancement to their daytime 3A bus service from Southend to Leigh.
“This service runs in the Southend Hospital area. The extension from Monday February 23rd, is to bring an hourly daytime service (from 9am to 3pm, with one extra journey from Southend at 5:15pm.) to the full length of Blenheim Chase, Eastwood Road and West Leigh Schools.
“This service then offers an enhanced direct service to Leigh Elms and Leigh Town Centre, as well as Southend Hospital and City Centre.
“As commented on, the BSIP does reference coverage (as of 2024) and the gaps therein. I attach page 27 from that policy paper that outlines these gaps and the big red circle on the left hand side is one we are dealing with now.
“We promoted the 17/17A to Highlands Boulevard area last July, and we are continuing to look for ways, at low cost, to close these gaps on this map attached.
“The stops close to Bonchurch Road junction, are to enable residents from that estate access a bus service that will take them to Leigh, Southend Hospital area and Southend City Centre.
“There are stops already in situ along Blenheim Chase and into Leigh, so the infrastructure costs are relatively minimal. It is not going to be an intensive service and not at peak hours, so I do not expect congestion to be a problem – in fact hopefully less car journeys as a result of this extension.
“I hope this helps”
Picture: Page 27 image from the quoted policy paper.
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