Residents' anger over reduction in bus service

Residents in East Sussex are calling on a bus company to reverse its decision to reduce the frequency of one of its services.

Stagecoach will change its route 51 service, which runs from Eastbourne to Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells, from half-hour intervals to an hourly service.

Sophie Carpenter, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), relies on the service for hospital appointments, and says the change is "disempowering".

Joel Mitchell, Stagecoach South East managing director, said due to fewer passengers using the service it "can't sustain the financial loss of continuing" the half-hourly service.

A petition launched on Monday objecting to the changes has already gained more than 600 signatures.

Ms Carpenter, who works as a counsellor specialising in dementia, said: "I've had MS for 18 years and I can't drive.

"My clients and their supporters will also suffer with the reduction of the bus services, which make life much harder than it already is."

Erin Wigham, who started the petition, said: "This is not ideal for people using the bus during peak hours."

The 20-year-old added: "I am also concerned for the health of disabled and elderly residents who rely on the bus as stops are not sheltered from the cold."

Julie Knight says the cost of living crisis means she and her husband cannot afford a car.

"My husband commutes daily on the 51 bus service and we rely on it to travel outside Heathfield," the 42-year-old said.

Mr Mitchell added: "The daytime frequency on Mondays to Saturdays isn't supported by the local authority, so for every one pound we spend for the service, we lose 60p. Sadly that's not sustainable."

The changes are due to take place from 30 March.

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