Petition to Save Fareham's Number 20 Bus Service

I appreciate your proactive approach in advocating for transport improvements in your local area and your dedication in co-ordinating the Petition calling for workable solutions.

As I believe Officers have previously shared, the funding for the 20 Service was identified as a potential saving, because it does not provide transport for children who the County Council has a legal duty to transport to school.

Due to ongoing significant budgetary pressures, the County Council have had to look at doing things differently to achieve savings. A decision was made to prioritise public transport which is directly linked to the statutory provision of school transport. Sadly, this has led to the funding for other supported local bus services being withdrawn.

Officers have discussed the 20 Service with commercial bus providers to seek an alternative outcome. Regrettably, we are told that there is insufficient patronage to justify serving this area, without causing implications to their existing, well established commercial routes and as such they have no plans at the current time to run a fully commercial service for this route.

While I am sympathetic to all the reasons stated in your petition for public transport in the Knowle and Funtley area, the County Council’s current position remains unchanged from that of previous correspondence that has been shared with you.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Lulu Bowerman
Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport