Friday 23 September 2011

Rusthall's bus services

What is it that makes travel into Tunbridge Wells by bus a more attractive proposition than taking the car?  The short answer is: reliability, frequency and accessibility of the service.  For the most part the current Rusthall - High Brooms service meets the first two requirements and for many the third one.  However anyone who lives in the Denny Bottom/Grange Road area has quite a trek. I cannot see how buses could reach these areas.  One suggestion has been to route buses via Bretland Road and Cranwell Road. However this would require major alterations to the Coach Road/Lower Green Road/Rusthall Road crossroads and it is unlikely this could be undertaken  as it would involve the loss of part of Rusthall Common.

Consideration should be given to diverting the Tunbridge Wells - Speldhurst bus service via Rusthall Road, High Street and Dorden Drive. Even better if the service was extended to the new hospital.

During the day there is a regular bus service from Tunbridge Wells to Crawley.  It passes tantalisingly close to the village.  To catch a bus on this service one either has to go by bus to the Spa Hotel and change or walk up the Terry Path. Both options involve crossing the very busy A264.  There are no bus shelters at either location.  Why not seek for this service to be diverted via the High Street?

Many people cross the A264 at the top of the Terry Path.  The parish council should be pressing for a pedestrian island at this location. 

What is needed is a radical re-think of the bus routes in the town. The Tunbridge Wells-Sherwood service comes close to the North Farm estate.  Why not extend the service into the estate and to the new hospital at Pembury?

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