A REVIEW is currently underway of amended timetables for Tollesbury bus services following a campaign from Witham’s MP.

Priti Patel, whose constituency includes Tiptree and Tollesbury, has been campaigning for Essex County Council to save bus services 91, 92, and 95 which run from Tollesbury to Colchester, Witham and Maldon after the bus company announced they would be axed earlier in the year due to the routes being economically unviable.

A month after the announcement from Hedingham Omnibus, Essex County Council stated that following residents’s concerns they would step in to run the services.

In August County Hall re-launched the services under their management, which reduced the number of buses running down to seven going in and out of Tollesbury per day.

Ms Patel was disappointed to learn this reduction in morning services would prevent many constituents from being able to get to work, jeopardizing their prospect of being able to retain their jobs and made representations to County Hall.

Following her intervention, County Hall have acknowledged the existing difficulties with the new timetable and are currently reviewing in the hopes of increasing the number of buses.

Ms Patel said: “After campaigning for a complete maintenance of the Hedingham services, it was deeply concerning to hear that the Council’s initial revisions to the timetables prevented many individuals from travelling to work, schools, GP surgeries and local towns.

“After stressing these failures in the current timetable, I am pleased that the Council have finally listened to residents and that an amended timetable will soon be published, taking into account the necessity to deliver a service that works for everyone and ensures that residents can continue to meet their daily obligations.”