Valerie meets with residents of Beacon Heights about local bus services.

On Friday 14 November 2014, Valerie and residents met with representatives of Centro and National Express West Midlands at the Beacon Heights Park Homes site on Pinfold Lane to discuss bus services to the site.

Valerie said: “Residents contacted me following the cessation of the evening and Sunday bus services serving Beacon Heights. Beacon Heights is some distance from the nearest amenities and it is difficult for many of the residents, a number of whom are elderly, to get out and about when buses are not running.”

“Centro refused my initial request for the bus to be reinstated. I then presented a petition in Parliament from the residents. There was a helpful response from the Department for Transport which indicated that the Bus Service Operator Grant may be available for the bus service.”

“I arranged the meeting so that residents could explain to Centro the affect that the lack of evening and weekend bus services has on their lives. Residents made very clear that they valued the 25 service which runs from Bloxwich to Kingstanding and passes by the entrance to Beacon Heights. Residents asked that Centro look at changing the timetable of the 25 or running a trial service on Sundays.”

“It was a constructive meeting with residents able to put to the representatives of Centro and National Express West Midlands how bus services can be improved for Beacon Heights residents.”