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I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help

Pledge “newrothwellbus”

"I will use a new bus service on the route from Rothwell to Leeds in West Yorkshire, if someone sets one up to compete with Arriva, but only if 20 other local people will use the service as well."

— Rob Shaw, resident of Rothwell, West Yorkshire (contact)

Deadline to sign up by: 31^st March 2006
30 people signed up (10 over target)

Country: United Kingdom
Place: Rothwell (near Woodlesford, Robin Hood, Belle Isle) (view map)

More details
I'm fed up of the dire service provided by Arriva for services 443 and 444 from Rothwell to Leeds. I moved to the area 6 years ago and the bus was every 10 minutes and cost £1. Now it costs £1.50 and the bus is only every 15 minutes. It is frequently late or doesn't turn up at all.

Many complaints by customers have made no difference because Arriva has a monopoly on bus services from Rothwell. They have also been investigated by the Office of Fair Trading for price-fixing with First Buses.

I used to live in Sheffield and our local service improved dramatically when a competing service was set up (ironically by 20 drivers who had been laid off by the incumbent Mainline buses and put their redundancy money in to the scheme).

I would like to use this pledge to demonstrate that there is a demand for a better service on this route, and if someone sets one up, local people will use it. This includes either a new operator or one of the existing operators serving other routes such as First or Black Prince.

Comments on this pledge

• The bus service as you say is appalling, when you have to rely on the bus to get you to and from work or even popping down into rothwell you just have to hope that they turn up at the right time if at all, And the cost has gone mad it is cheaper for my self and family to take a taxi down into rothwell than get for the bus. my wife was recently late for work because the bus just never turned up, not late just didnt bother coming.
  RICHARD EVANS, 4 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Whilst I enjoy a cheap (over 60) ticket price I can well appreciate the feelings of the younger people who are having to pay much more to and from work.
  James Butterick, 4 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Thanks for your comment, James. If we get a new service you will of course benefit (hopefully) from better reliability and more frequent services, even if the price is no different.
  Rob Shaw, 4 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• No problem Rob - the required quota should be achieved afore long as I have sent out emails and will be opening some letter boxes in the morning. Good luck
  James Butterick, 4 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• James (or anyone else), if you would like some posters/leaflets then send me an email (rob.shaw.uk@gmail.com) and I'll email or post some to you.
  
  The pledge is in the February Rothwell Record (letters page).
  Rob Shaw, 4 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I agree that the bus service is appalling. Many people rely on our bus service and it's about time something was done. I've taken up several transport issues in Rothwell including trying to get the evening bus back on the Wood Lane Estate - the residents have been forgotten about there! My husband's uncle was one of those who set up the Sheffield bus company with his redundancy money from Arriva. If there are any interested parties wanting to do the same he may be able to help.
  Karen Bruce, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• There is an article about the pledge in today's Wakefield Express. http://www.wakefieldtoday.co.uk/ViewArti...
  Rob Shaw, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• We have asked representatives of the bus companies and METRO to come to a meeting at Morley Town Hall at 4.00 pm on Monday 20 February. All members of the public interested in hearing what they have to say are welcome. It will be an opportunity to let the bus companies know the strength of feeling there is across Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton at the current level of service which is far from acceptable.
  Cllr Steve Smith, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I've often complained about the Rothwell services when they haven't turned up especially late in the eve, but the only effect this has seems to be the gradual reduction of the service availability. With Robin Hood becoming more populated and nothing being done to improve the Stourton interchange I hope that services that start off near Sharp Hall Lane will be extended to begin at Robin Hood to offer an alternative route into Leeds
  Francis Edwards, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• The buses are usually 5-10 minuets late all the time, the buses are not up to service standard as they are usually 10 years old, very filthy and cold, and most of the seats are damaged. I even was sitting at the top front of the 443 from Leeds to Rothwell and the front window looked like it was going to drop out any second and I’m not kidding. The fair is now £1.60 which was £1.50 before, I know people have complained about this but nothing has been done. Something needs to be done about these two bus services (443,444).
  Daniel Townend, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I have been using the 443/4 a lot of late and must say that I have found it entirely dependable (can't remember one being more than two min adrift of schedule). The elderly double deckers that often see use on this service are due to be replaced within the next two-three weeks, btw.
  Jeff, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Jeff, you may be right there. Some of the old buses seem to have been replaced and the NextBus service (www.wymetro.com on your mobile) is very helpful.
  
  Sadly, the frequency is still quite poor, and traffic has been very bad since the work on stage 7 of the ring road started.
  
  One way to help reduce congestion is to consider car sharing. Register your regular journeys at www.carshareleeds.com and you might find someone who can give you a lift or someone else that would appreciate one. The site is supported by Leeds CC and used by many of the big employers in Leeds.
  Rob Shaw, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!