County comes to aid of Conquest buses

Last week the Observer reported the decision by Stagecoach to withdraw its services to and from the hospital after 6.30pm.

But a deal has been done between the bus company and the county council to keep the services in place, with some changes. Three services will now run from the Conquest after 6.30pm.

They are: A 7.05pm Hollington Arrow service, subsidised by East Sussex, from the Conquest, through Hollington depending on where passengers want to go, and then on through the normal 26 route to the town centre.

An 8.15 service will be run by Stagecoach without subsidy along the normal 26a route.

The final service from the Conquest will leave the hospital at 9.05pm and follow the 8a route to town via Hollington.

Tom Bridge, operations manager for Stagecoach, was delighted to announce the deal.

He said: "We didn't take the original decision lightly but had made substantial losses on those services.

"Fortunately, we have negotiated to ensure a link to the Conquest through the evening."

Cllr Bob Hart welcomed the news but appealed to residents to use the buses so they could be viable in the future.

He said: "I am pleased but I would like to see more core buses provided without subsidy. I would like to see more people to use buses rather than cars but people say they are not reliable enough."

Matthew Lock, lead county councillor for transport, said he wanted Stagecoach to run more bus services, not less.

He said: "It is good news that we are able to step in and save this service but we will be having meetings with Stagecoach to make them accountable for the people of Hastings.

"Almost everybody I speak to has got a complaint about the buses, especially evening services."

Cllr Lock said the exact amount of subsidy had not yet been finalised.