Hospital-bound bus route scrapped

Buy photos » Councillor Bally Singh said he was concerned over the planned stoppage of the 34 bus service, which takes residents from the west of the city directly to University Hospital. 52.011.007.cov.nc1 www.buyphotos247.com

PATIENTS wanting to get to Coventry Hospital by bus from the west of the city will now need to change at Pool Meadow after a direct service was stopped.

The number 34 service, which runs from Torrington Avenue in Tile Hill uninterrupted through to the Walsgrave site, is set to be stopped by travel organisation Centro.

The half-hourly service will be replaced by a new, more direct, service but residents in the west of the city will be forced to change at the city centre bus station.

Centro claimed the changes would actually reduce the journey time by ten minutes because of the route change but Coun Bally Singh said he was concerned the change would 'add distress' to the journey.

He told the Observer he was concerned profitability was being put before the public's right to get to the hospital but said it was a 'disgrace' that government cuts to Centro's fuel rebate could have led to the route's scrappage.

"These proposals mean residents in the west of the city using the bus to Walsgrave Hospital will have to change at Pool Meadow which will add to the distress of a journey.

"My question is why could they not alter the bus route to go via the Ansty Road route instead of having the new service? This would still provide a direct route to the hospital for people from the west of the city, and be quicker too."

A Centro spokesman said details of service changes were still being finalised by operators following feedback from passengers and councillors.

He added: "NX Coventry and Centro will try to ensure that interchange in the city centre is quick and easy."

"Full details of all changes across the city are due to be announced later in the new year. Overall the changes will result in increased frequencies for the majority of bus passengers in Coventry."