Gapton Bus Service ~ Local User Group Responds

Following our coverage of an article appearing in last week's Great Yarmouth Mercury about a bus service to Gapton Retail Park, I have received a response from Steve Hewitt of the East Norfolk Transport User Association

The Association has written to the newspaper regarding the subject and a copy is reproduced below:-

'I write in response to the article on the front of last week’s GYM regarding First's reluctance to run a bus to and from Gapton Hall.

This an old chestnut for us in ENTUA. With the continued growth of this area we cant understand why one operator will not take a chance and divert one of their many Southtown Road operated services via Gapton especially with the growing number of large retailers now opening premises on this site.

I hear what Iain Rankine is saying when he speaks of the problem with the traffic and particularly with the lack of infrastructure for buses in that area.We have debated this issue with Iain many times and ENTUA feels the with traffic situation on Southtown Road is just as problematic with queues happening along that stretch at numerous times of the day this is not a wholehearted reason not to consider a services. Also I am certain that once people became aware of the bus service it could end becoming quite a lucrative route!

At our annual public open meeting held in August, Daniel Yellop mentioned that some money is ready to be spent improving bus information in a corridor from Caister to James Paget Hospital. Surely some money could also be found to build some lay byes close to Gapton Hall or does the County Council want Gapton Hall to continue being the only retail park in Norfolk not served by public transport?'

Thanks for the sight of the Association's response Steve. If you want to lend your voice to the cause you can leave a comment on the message board on their website or alternatively you could write to

ENTUA,
18 Wensum Way,
Belton,
Great Yarmouth,
Norfolk. NR31 9NY

Roy