Bus funding cuts announced for Chichester, Midhurst and Bognor Regis areas

The cuts are the first of a three-phase plan to reduce funding for non-commercial routes by £2 million and follow a consultation in which 6,000 people responded.

Bus services which will be affected in October 2011:

Countryliner 54 Chichester - Petersfield Route amended so that most journeys run via Nyewood & Rogate between South Harting and Petersfield, but no longer serving West Stoke & Tilmore Gardens. School journey amended, not serving West Stoke. Existing approximate two-hourly frequency retained.

Compass 64 Alfold – Horsham (Mondays & Thursdays) Potentially revised route and timetable to additionally serve Kirdford, Wisborough Green & Billingshurst, whilst withdrawn from Alfold.

Compass 74/75/76 Ashington/Petworth - Horsham Funding reduced and a revised route and timetable with off peak service between Petworth & Horsham. 74 no longer serves Ashington. Passengers from Ashington & Thakeham may be able to use revised service 72/73 above. Passengers from Kirdford, Wisborough Green and between Barns Green and Billingshurst may be able to use revised service 64 above or Billilinks Taxibus. Further work with communities is required to shape this or other potential solutions.

Countryliner 91/92/93 Midhurst - Petersfield Funding reduced and frequency reduced from hourly to about every two hours, running mostly as Service 92 via Trotton but no longer serving King Edward VII Hospital. Service 91 journeys retained for schoolchildren travelling to Midhurst. Service 93 reduced to one return journey on Saturday only, but one return journey on Service 92 diverted via Terwick Rise on Mondays to Fridays. South Harting, Nyewood & Rogate will have additional buses on revised service 54 above. Further work with communities is required to shape this or other potential solutions.

Countryliner X92 Midhurst – Portsmouth (Saturdays) Funding and journey withdrawn.

DoRis D1 Northchapel – Midhurst

Funding withdrawn, potentially replaced by new shopping service two days per week. Further work with communities is required to shape this or other potential solutions.

DoRis D2 Midhurst – Stedham & Woolbeding (Wednesdays) Funding withdrawn. Any passengers from Stedham have alternative buses on Countryliner 91/92 which now use low floor buses, Woolbeding passengers could use Midhurst Community Bus. Further work with communities is required to shape potential solutions.

DoRis D3 Redford – Midhurst (schooldays) Withdrawn, Stedham children to Midhurst will transfer to Stagecoach 92A.

DoRiS D4 Midhurst - Graffham

Funding withdrawn, could be partially replaced by new shopping service two days per week. Further work with communities is required to shape this or other potential solutions.

DoRiS D5 Petworth - Graffham

Funding withdrawn. potentially replaced by new shopping service two days per week. Graffham passengers may be able to use Compass 99.

DoRiS D7 Midhurst Town Service

Funding withdrawn. At Holmbush passengers may be able to use Stagecoach 60 which now uses low floor buses, other parts of the town are covered by the Midhurst Community Bus.

Changes in January 2012

Stagecoach 1 Worthing – Midhurst (Sundays) WSCC funding withdrawn from evening & Sunday. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.

Stagecoach 51 Chichester – Selsey (Sundays and evenings) WSCC funding withdrawn from evening & Sunday. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.

Stagecoach 52/53 Chichester – Witterings (Sundays and evenings) WSCC funding withdrawn from evening & Sunday services. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.

Stagecoach 55 Chichester – Tangmere (Sundays and evenings) WSCC funding withdrawn from evening & Sunday services. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.

Stagecoach 60 Bognor – Midhurst (Sundays and Evenings) WSCC funding withdrawn from evening & Sunday services. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.

Stagecoach 91 Midhurst – Petersfield (Sundays) WSCC funding withdrawn from Sunday service. Stagecoach are working on a detailed analysis to confirm if they will run any journeys as a commercial operation. Stagecoach will be making an announcement by 1st September as to which journeys they will continue to run commercially.