Petition calling for more Bognor Regis buses

The 66 bus service runs once every two hours, with no buses after 5.30pm and no service on Sundays or bank holidays.

The route connects Yapton and Barnham and the surrounding area with Bognor Regis town centre, and the petition has seen signatures from isolated residents in all areas.

“What is the point in having a bus pass if I can’t even use it,” said Sally Pickthall, 65, from The Pines, Yapton.

“There is just one bus with one driver which is ridiculous – if the bus breaks down we are left stranded.”

The current schedule sees only seven buses a day, and is run by Compass Travel – funded by West Sussex County Council.

Mrs Pickthall added: “Youths who want a bit more independence can’t have it because it is so difficult to get around.

“Some students cannot even get the bus back home after school or college and then have to walk, sometimes in the dark which is so dangerous.

“It would make so much difference to people’s lives if they trialled one bus an hour, maybe they would see how important it is.”

West Sussex County Council will now review the points that have been raised in the petition, both internally and by speaking to bus operators, and then will come back to the petitioners with a response.

Co-organiser of the campaign, Pam Shiels, of Goodacres in Barnham, said: “To have to plan your day around the schedule can be really difficult, and pensioners like myself cannot afford to get taxis all the time to compensate for the poor service.”

However, the reaction to the petition has been a greater success than expected.

“I am so delighted by the response we have received – we have had great support from the younger generation and those who work full time,” Mrs Sheils added.

“We also had help from the chemist and opticians in Barnham as well as the Co-op in Yapton who all had sheets for people to sign.

“After all our hard work it feels brilliant to be handing it over to the council – we have done everything that we can do.”

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