Calls for more local bus services in West Sussex towns as residents react to 500 service

The 500 goes between Chichester and Littlehampton via Shopwyke, Fontwell, Barnham and Yapton - but some locals say their areas are still being missed

People living in several West Sussex towns are calling for more local bus services as the 500 route providing an alternative route between Chichester and Littlehampton is announced. 

The new bus route covers Shopwyke, Fontwell, Barnham and Yapton - but residents were quick to question where services are for areas such as Arundel, Woodgate, Westergate and Walberton. 

One of them being Clare Knight, who described how she has "to wait two hours to get a bus, if it comes" to get to her destination.

"The last bus is about 5.45. I don't drive, so it takes me all day just to get to a town, then wait two hours to get home.

"When you have a special needs person with you, it's hard." 

She elaborates that she needs the bus to take her daughter, who has additional needs, out on day trips, or "she will never get out much". 

"I work, so it'll be nice just to get on a bus and not wait so long to come home," Clare told V2 Radio. 

Kevin Adsett is another bus passenger, who told V2 Radio about how he used to use the number 9 service from Littlehampton to Arundel on a Sunday to have a look round the "ladies and gents clothing and collectors shops."

"In the Summer we used to visit Arundel regularly on a Sunday.

"The bus was always fairly busy with walkers and people down on holiday.

"They even put on a double decker when the festival was on.

"The 9 ran from Littlehampton to Arundel only on a Sunday.

"Now the only way to get there is by train with a change at Ford and a long walk into Arundel from the railway station."

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "Service 500 has been awarded to Stagecoach under tender by West Sussex County Council, with the Council having chosen the route the bus will run.  

"The service is financially supported by the Government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, where WSCC bid for kick-start funding for a fast and direct route connecting Littlehampton and Chichester via the villages of Yapton, Barnham, Eastergate and Shopwhyke.

"Most parts of these villages have been largely unserved by a frequent bus service for many years but fall on a natural direct line of route, along which has been a significant volume of new residential development, with more to follow.   

"The Council is keen to offer these new residents (as well as existing ones) the opportunity to choose a sustainable mode of travel at the earliest opportunity to help reduce the number of car trips through the villages.

"We don't currently operate through Westergate and Woodgate - these villages are served by another WSCC-supported service, 66, operated by Compass.  To the best of my knowledge this route is continuing unchanged at this time.

 "We'll continue to serve Arundel with our Service 9 from Littlehampton, which runs every hour.  We've no plans for changes to the 9 at this time.

"WSCC is planning to launch a new Demand Responsive service around Barnham and Westergate later this year.  This service will supplement the new 500 and offer connections from villages not on direct line of route.

"Buses around Barnham have largely operated under subsidy contract to WSCC in recent years, as passenger numbers have been too low to support the cost of running a commercial service.  

"This is really due to the presence of the railway - but, going forward, the expansion of the villages and new residents in the area will increase the chance of commercial viability for a new bus route.

"The 500 kicks-off this opportunity, with an expectation of further improvements in the years ahead.

"We'll be running launch events and further promotion of the new 500 bus during this year.

 "This will see us attend community events where possible as well as directly inviting customer feedback on the service once it's running.

 It will be possible to come and talk to us at the events we attend, but otherwise our customer service inbox at south.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com is the best first point of contact."