Stagecoach axing services to Peter Symonds College

Stagecoach recently announced that, from September, it is axing a raft of routes to Peter Symonds College in Winchester. 

The bus operator has come under fire for the decision from the leader of Hampshire County Council Nick Adams-King. 

In a letter to students, staff and parents, James O'Neill, commercial director of Stagecoach South, said: “Most college bus services have been busy this year with high numbers of students travelling. However, a few routes have unfortunately carried far smaller numbers. As the buses operate on a commercial basis, relying on ticket sale income without subsidy, this means some now run at an unsustainable loss totalling over £200,000 in the year.

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Peter Symonds College (Image: Contributed) "The bus industry continues to face challenging costs, particularly for parts, materials and staffing, which are expected to continue to rise at above inflationary rates for the year ahead. This has made it very challenging to cover the running cost of college buses, especially longer-distance routes, where the only income is collected through student ticket sales.

“To address this unsustainable financial loss, we need to make a number of changes for September. We're very sorry for the impact these changes will have on students at the stops we can no longer serve. It is important that the bus network continues to run at a sustainable level to secure our core routes for the vast majority of students travelling to and from college with Stagecoach.”

The services being cut are: Old Alresford (currently 64X) - nearest bus will be Service 64 from New Alresford; Whiteparish and West Wellow (currently 662) - nearest bus will be Service 66 from Romsey; Knowle Village (currently 691) - nearest bus will be Service 69 from Wickham; Hatch Warren and Worting (currently 86) - local buses run to Basingstoke railway station; Penwood and Wash Common (currently 86) - no replacement; Newbury and Kingsclere (currently 86) - Service 32 runs to Basingstoke railway station; Ludgershall and Weyhill (currently 851) - use Activ8 into Andover and change to Service 74/75; and Lordshill, North Baddesley and Valley Park (currently 461) - no replacement. 

Cllr Nick Adams-King (Image: HCC)

In a Facebook post, Cllr Adams-King said: “Conveying this information to existing students just before the end of term and only two days before the deadline for confirmation of application for those hoping to attend the college from September is in my opinion not only disappointing but also unacceptable. 

“I have made urgent enquiries of the college and Stagecoach to request they review their decision. 

“I hope that the college and Stagecoach can come to an arrangement which allows continued directs access for local students. The council has no direct role but I will ensure we do all we can to assist with any eventual solution."

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A statement from Peter Symonds College said: “Students were contacted as soon as Peter Symonds was made aware of the decision, over which the college had no control. Students were updated on, and forwarded the details of the changes implemented by Stagecoach. The college’s student support team is working with the few students affected. The vast majority of students remain unaffected by the changes.”

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Most school and college routes have been busy with students travelling this year. However a few have carried smaller numbers, and this has become unsustainable, as we operate on a commercial basis relying on ticket sale income without subsidy.

"The bus industry continues to face challenging costs, particularly for parts, materials, and staffing which are expected to continue to rise above inflationary rates for the year ahead. This has made it very challenging to cover the running cost of college buses, especially longer distance routes where our only income is generated through student ticket sales."