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Bus services return to Andover area after complaints

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Transport on Demand service buses have been restored to an area of town, which had been left cut off following the launch of a new service.

Iris Andersen, Test Valley Borough Council member for Andover St Mary's, can declare victory in her bid to extend the Connect: Transport on Demand service to Spanish Town.

The councillor, who first raised the issue after residents complained to her, said: "It's really good. I feel that it is a really good move, and we are not the only people who have suffered from bad bus services.

Cllr Iris Andersen (Image: Charles Elliman)



"To be honest with you, this is not going to be making everybody happy, and I'm sad to see that some people are not giving it a go."

She continued: "We are trying to do something for the residents by getting different buses to come together to pick up different people."

According to the councillor, she met Community First, who run the bookable minibus service with funding from Hampshire County Council (HCC).

She added: "They did reach out. They wanted the meeting and it's got things going. It was effective.

"When we said it was not perfect, it has now been sorted out, but it's a new assignment, and it was good that they reached out."

The debate over the service recently found a way forward after HCC said the minibus service was leading to greater footfall in the town centre.

Businesses on the High Street strongly contested the council's claims.

Jackie Lusk, one of the owners of The Tea Room Andover, said: "There's days when you can sit here, look down to the High Street, and see there's no one around. So, how can HCC say there's more footfall?"

Hampshire County Council had said the new service was improving connectivity to the town centre



Community First was approached for comment and confirmed it had made the changes to its service after meeting Cllr Andersen.

Fabian Cook, the head of Transport and Mobility, said: "At a recent meeting with Cllr Andersen, we were delighted to confirm, after several months of planning, the expansion of services into all 20 stops in Spanish Town.

"This expansion gives all residents access to the Connect: Transport on Demand service, enabling links into Andover Bus Station, Andover Train Station, Andover Hospital and the wider Northern Test Valley, operating flexibly between 0700-1900, Monday to Saturday. 

"Residents can book via the "Book a Journey" app, the web (cfirst.org.uk/connectTOD) or a phone call to our team and can use code SUMMER1 to receive £1 off their trips until the end of August."

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