ANGRY residents have spoken out against a decision to alter a popular bus route expected to now serve a new housing development in Malvern.
The 44 bus service from Malvern to Worcester cut out the stops on Yates Hay Road after more than 20 years of picking up residents on the route, last Monday (September 7).
Among those was Derrick Hazlehurst, who is registered blind and relies on his guide dog and his own senses to find the stop. The Beauchamp Road resident told The Observer cutting that from the route will cause him an ‘inconvenience’.
“It is a matter of routine,” he said. “Because I have got to work out where the bus stops are again it is about getting the dog used to where the stops are as well.
“Once I got to the old stop, the dog used to go into the bus stop and would automatically stop, where now the dog could walk past it without even realising.
“I could understand if I was the only one using it, but when there are always people there it just doesn’t make sense.”
The service, operated by First Bus, starts at Malvern Community Hospital before going through Great Malvern, Barnards Green, Malvern Link, Powick and ending up at County Hall in Worcester.
There were two stops along Yates Hay Road – one was opposite Dyson Perrins CofE Academy – and it is believed the move has been made to cater for the recent Malvern Vale development.
However Rachel Sanders, who lives in the new estate, said the narrow roads and unfinished surfaces would present a danger for buses and the children in the development.
“Even though I live on the Vale and it would be good to have a bus service over here I don’t think it is going to work because not only are the roads not finished but they are much narrower,” she added.
“It would be brilliant to have buses here – much closer and much easier – but the roads are not finished off. And even when they are you have the bends, the high kerbs and the double parking.
“All through the summer you have the kids round the play area, playing in the roads and leaving their bikes everywhere.
“Someone is going to get hurt or the buses will get stuck because they are so narrow.”
A Worcestershire County Council spokeswoman confirmed the new bus timetable had changed and no longer served Yates Hay Road.
“The bus service does serve Upper Howsell Road and Leigh Sinton Road, both adjacent roads, and the stops on these roads are within five minutes walking distance of the previous stops on Yates Hay Road,” she added.
“We are currently confirming improvements to the bus stop signage on Upper Howsell Road.”
