Woodbridge Shuttle Cock-Up And DDA Farce

You may have noticed that there are a few sets of roadworks taking place at the moment. Just a few mind you. A lot of them seem to be concentrated in the Woodbridge area, with whole parts of the region effectvely cut off. Major roadworks mean that right now Wickham Market, Kettleburgh, Rendlesham, Eyke, Tunstall and Snape are without their normal bus service to Ipswich. If you live in Kettleburgh, Tunstall and Snape its a case of tough luck as no alternative provision whatsoever has been provided. However, Suffolk County Council have thoughtfully provided shuttle services from Wickham Market, Rendlesham and Eyke to connect with the diiverted 64/65.

However, as you would expect with all things Council all is not simple. The shuttle service from Wickham Market, which replaces the 64, remember, normally leaving at xx50, now leaves at xx15 and connects with the 65, so 30 mins difference arriving at the destination. Coming the other way if you want to travel from Ipswich to Rendlesham instead of catching the 65 as usual, changing at Woodbridge, you now have to catch the 64, again 30 mins difference. Makes perfect sense. Not only that but as you will see the Council have failed to take into account disabled passengers or less importantly the buggy and trolley brigade.

I had to go on my regular trip to Wickham Market today so was able to sample both these services. It should be noted that my journey from Saxmndham to Wickham Market took an HOUR longer than usual, as I had to travel via Woodbridge and double back. Surely the shuttle could have operated to/from Marlesford to give passengers travelling both ways an easy connection. The Wickham shuttle was operated by JR Ewing Executive Travel in a rather plush Mercedes 16 seater minibus.

JR Executive Travel JR11 BUS at  Wickham Market

You will notice the Suffolk Links minibus behind - more on that later.

The Rendlesham Shuttle, however, was most unexpected. First's ex Excel and just about everything else coach 20515 was being used, and that really was an opportunity not to be sniffed at, so as I had allowed extra time to get home anyway I used that to take a trip to Rendlsham and back. Still gives a decent ride and heating was most welcome!

20515 at Woodbridge

Still showing her former employment

20515 at Redwald Rd, Rendlesham

Now the really knowledgable of you may have noticed something - neither vehicle had a ticket machine - therefore no fares were being charged or taken. I can only assume that the Council have hired both vehicles on a Private Hire basis and have foregone any revenue. I guess they save on Concessionary Pass payments too so probably evens out. However, there is the wheelchair and buggy access issues. Obviously the coach is exempt from DDA until next year, but what about the minibus? My local 196 is operated by a 14 seater Transit minibus with no wheelchair access, yet all the Suffolk Links minibuses, as in the pic further up the page all have wheelchair ramps. We have seen Beavers disappear from the rural roads so why does it apply to some but not all?

Well if that Wickham Shuttle is effectively a Private Hire then like the Bernies contracts that could use Ollies on it after DDA then the same applies to this. But that is irrelevant as having checked the regulations (and there are a lot of them) DDA only applies to vehicles carrying 22 passengers or more. WHAT??? Yes that's correct, only vehicles carrying 22 passengers or more need wheelchair accessibility etc.. Now correct me if I'm wrong but DDA stands for Disability Discrimination Act. It is designed so no one is excluded from using bus services regardless of disability. Except if you live in the sticks it seems, because if your bus service uses a vehicle carrying less than 22 passengers then you don't count, and by default are still discriminated against. Yes there is On Demand transport, such as Suffolk Links and Dial-a-Ride, but they all need to be prebooked. It does beg the question - when is discrimination not discrimination and why on earth haven't the disability rights groups been jumping up and down over this. Thousands of perfectly decent, usable buses will be scrapped over the next two years, yet a mobile shoebox with less than 22 passengers can carry on without a care in the world. Talk about a postcode lottery.

So to finish with another rare sight in Woodbridge! I seriously dislike that frog!

E200 44519 in Woodbridge on the 65 to Ipswich