Consultations In Essex

Introduction

Essex County Council (ECC) carried out a public consultation on several proposals for the Chelmsford Park & Ride service, which aim to reduce costs to the taxpayer, improve the running times of services and meet some customer requests received from engagement carried out in summer 2018.

The consultation ran from 21 January to 22 March 2019, and asked questions around the following:.

1. Closure of Chelmer Valley Park and Ride on Saturdays due to low usage. Sandon would remain open for customers wishing to use Park and Ride and would run on a loop route around the city centre.
2. A discounted ticket offer when tickets are purchased digitally through a mobile app.
3. Raise the child ticket age from 16 to 18 years of age.
4. Remove the on-site ticket machines as they approach the end of their lifespan from 2019, but continue to allow cash fares to be taken on bus.

Key conclusions

• 35% of respondents support the proposed Saturday closure of the Chelmer Valley site. 64% of respondents do not support this proposal.
• 77% of respondents support the proposed discounted ticket when purchased through the mobile app.
• 81% support the proposal to raise the age for the child ticket.
• 62% support the proposal to remove ticket machines as they approach the end of their lifespan from 2019, and 37% do not support this proposal.

Please see final report for summary of qualitative themed responses.

Key findings from the consultation have been presented to County Councillors, and a final decision on the proposals is expected in late summer 2019.

Service 11 operates Monday to Friday with financial support from Essex County Council (ECC). ECC considered amending the Monday – Friday timetable and carried out a public consultation regarding this proposal between 28 November 2018 and 02 January 2019. 

Due to congestion around Severalls Business Park and Colchester North Station in the late afternoon and evening, ECC proposed amending the existing timetable with the aim of improving reliability.

The Proposal 

• The timings of some the morning journeys to be slightly adjusted
• Journey times in the evening to be longer and as a result the number of journeys to be reduced to provide more running time.

The consultation therefore put forward the following question: Would you like to see the service revert to its previous route? 

Key conclusions

A high number of responses said they agreed with the changes. 

Summary

On the basis of the outcome of the consultation, it was agreed to amend the timetable in accordance with the proposal.

Final Decision

The new timetable will come into operation on Monday 18 March, stakeholders have been informed.

Introduction

Service 381 operates Monday to Saturdays with financial support from Essex County Council (ECC). ECC considered amending the Monday – Friday timetable and carried out a public consultation regarding this proposal for 6 weeks between 16 October 2018 and 26 November 2018

Due to low passenger numbers in the early morning and late afternoon period, ECC looked at ways to increase patronage on the 381 service and proposed to make the changes below.

The service to start at 6:55 from Coopersale to Epping Station with another run at 07:25, the timetable will then resume the current operation from Coopersale to Harlow from 7:55. The last two journeys of the day will operate between Epping Station - Coopersale at 18:05 and 18:30.

The consultation therefore put forward the following question: Would you like to see the service revert to its previous route?

Key conclusions

Respondent themed responses said they did not want to see services change and a number of respondents stated the withdrawal would affect them, there routine and community.

Summary

On the basis of the outcome of the consultation, it was agreed to take no action at this time.

Final Decision

As the comments from the survey were not conclusive, Essex County Council has decided to take no action following the consultation. The running of the service will be monitored further and Officers propose to meet with Local Parish Councils over the coming months to see how the current service can be improved for local residents.