Houghton Regis residents ‘totally isolated’ by bus changes

Councillor Ellaine Cooper has started a petition against the changes to Arriva routes after being contacted by angry residents.

“Many residents have told me that they now feel totally isolated,” she said.

“When the A and Z bus route was in operation, it was possible to get a direct route to and from Luton and Dunstable Hospital and also the Houghton Regis Medical Centre,” she said.

“Now residents have to make at least two changes, which also requires quite a long walk, to get to the required bus stop.”

The changes to the A/Z, H and L Arriva bus services came into effect on May 31, running journeys along the eastern side of Parkside Drive, providing a direct Houghton Regis to Luton service every seven to eight minutes, 24 hours a day.

Arriva said the changes were made to “better reflect the journeys our customers are actually making”.

A spokesperson said: “No residents have been left without a direct service to Luton.”

“The western section of Parkside Drive, between Windsor Drive and Houghton Regis Leisure Centre, continues to be served by route L, giving a direct service to Luton every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday,”.

And they said South Beds Dial-A-Ride offers a door-to-door alternative for customers with limited mobility who cannot use regular bus services.

Central Bedfordshire Council said it was aware of residents’ concerns.

A spokesperson said the authority had not previously raised the issue with Arriva because of the limited number of complaints it had received.

But they added: “However, following this media enquiry, we have now raised our concerns with the operator.

“Bus operators are free to make service changes based on the viability of their network, and the council cannot require an operator to serve specific roads or areas.”

Cllr Cooper’s petition has 388 signatures, with a further 36 residents signing a separate petition at All Saints View.