Key bus routes through Godalming under threat

I'm calling on Conservative-run Surrey County Council to halt its proposed cuts to key bus routes through Godalming for the sake of our residents.

Two key bus routes were threatened with cuts in the Future Bus Network Consultation published last year, which would cut residents off from The Mill Medical Practice and impose a curfew on work and leisure by removing more early morning and evening services.

It proposed cutting many timetabled services on the 42 route, which links Guildford, Godalming and Cranleigh and the removal of stops along Catteshall Lane. This is an important part of the route that provides access to The Mill Medical Practice, where over 16,000 patients are registered for GP services. The cancellation of many timetabled services would instead require residents to book journeys in advance on a minibus (so-called "Digital Demand Responsive Transport", DDRT).

The key 70/71/72 route that links Godalming, Ockford, Milford, Haslemere and Midhurst would have cuts to morning and evening services, creating a curfew for residents who depend on buses for work, shopping and leisure.

The bus network provides sustainable and affordable means of transport at a time of great concern about the environment and during a cost of living crisis. While I understand the operational challenges that the bus network currently operates within, and which underpin this review, now is not the time to be making changes which will only poorly serve the residents of Godalming.

Through Godalming Town Council, we are trying to engage with Surrey County Council to express our concern at the effect on residents that these cuts would have. We very much hope that council leaders will halt these changes when drawing up final proposals this year.

We oppose these cuts and I encourage residents to sign the petition to Surrey County Council.