Get that bus out … on a Sunday

Walton’s bus services have been spared in a major cost cutting programme agreed by Surrey County Council.

It was feared entire routes could be axed when the plans were first unveiled by transport officials at County Hall last year.

However, while managing to strip more than £1.7 million out of the annual bus subsidy budget of around £5 million, the county council is keeping all of Walton’s routes running although some will have reduced services.

Weekend shoppers have been given a boost with an announcement that the route from Kingston to Staines via Walton will have a Sunday service for a trial period of six months.

To survive beyond six months, the Sunday service needs to get bums on seats. The council’s Cabinet member for transport, Cllr Ian lake warned: “It will be a case of use it or lose it with the trial Sunday services.”

The 514 bus (Esher, to Kingston via Field Common, East and West Molesey and Hersham) had been threatened with the chop altogether but has been spared. The 564 service (Whiteley Village, Hersham, Ambleside Avenue, Walton, Vicarage Fields Estate and Xcel Leisure Centre) had faced serve cuts but will now run its normal frequency in the morning but down to hourly after lunchtime.

The 555 to Heathrow will make fewer journeys after 8pm and on Sundays but was another services that had originally been earmarked for major cuts. The changes are due to come into affect in the autumn.