East Riding Outposts Cut Off Fear For Residents

Far too many East Yorkshire communities are being left cut off, according to a new transport survey.

Holderness residents are telling their local MP, Graham Stuart, that public transport in rural areas is unreliable and is making it increasingly difficult to get to hospital appointments on time.

Transport should connect communities, not isolate them, the MP behind the East Yorkshire survey states. Conservative Graham Stuart is publishing the full survey findings next month and will present the study to both local and national decision makers.

The strongest themes emerging from the Holderness responses are calls for more reliable buses, better connections to Hull and Beverley, and roads that are repaired properly rather than patched repeatedly.

Mr Stuart, who has been the MP for Beverley and Holderness since 2005, said:

“The message coming through from Holderness is clear. When transport doesn’t work, people don’t just miss a bus. They miss hospital appointments, struggle to get to work, find it harder to see family and become cut off from the opportunities many of us take for granted.”

He explained the impact was particularly crucial for people living in rural places in East Yorkshire and the planning for bus routes and public transport required a joined up approach. Mr Stuart plans to take the results of his study to Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, transport operators and Government ministers.

“In rural communities, transport isn’t a luxury. It is what allows people to live independent lives. People don’t care who is responsible. They care whether transport works.” 

“My job is to make sure the organisations responsible hear what local people are saying and act on it. That’s why I’m asking as many people as possible to complete my survey before I present the findings in September.”

More than 100 people have already taken part in the survey, with responses from across Holderness highlighting the impact that poor transport can have on daily life.

While 87 per cent of respondents say they use a car or van, many also rely on buses, with half using local bus services. Residents say they simply want transport they can rely on, whether travelling to work, hospital appointments, the shops or to see family.

One respondent told the survey that without a car, he would find it almost impossible to attend hospital appointments. Others described being forced to rely on expensive taxis, struggling to get to work because of unreliable services, and feeling increasingly cut off when transport options fail.

The survey builds on Mr Stuart’s long-running work on transport, including campaigning to protect Hull Trains, making the case for York to Hull rail via Beverley, opposing higher costs for rural motorists, pressing for better bus services and taking residents’ pothole concerns to East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Earlier this summer, Mr Stuart wrote to the the Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Luke Campbell about transport issues in the region and met with the Mayor’s new Transport Director to set-out residents’ priorities.

Improving public transport

Mayor Campbell welcomed the study and explained he is focused on improving public transport for everyone in the region. He explained he had been meeting with rural businesses and residents in East Yorkshire to hear their views and was looking for practical solutions. And the Mayor has held business roundtable events to listen to businesses about the needs they have for employees to be able to travel across Hull and East Yorkshire to get to and from work.

“I will be continuing to work with Graham and any other local politician who puts the people before politics,” he said. “I am totally focused on looking to deliver real results for residents. New transport initiatives are complex and are big budget items that need detailed planning, but my transport team are well underway and more announcements will be coming in the next few months.”

Mayor Campbell recently launched reduced bus fares for people who have a disability or long-term health issues who would like support to get back into work. He is also promoting a bookable minibus service for residents where there is no bus service available. And earlier this summer he introduced half-price bus fares for 16 to 19-year-olds throughout August.

This week the Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that disabled bus pass holders in England will receive unlimited free 24/7 travel. The £60 million nationwide policy effectively eliminates current weekday morning and late-night travel time restrictions.

There is still time for local residents in East Yorkshire to make their voice heard on transport policy by responding to Graham Stuart’s transport survey, which remains open until September.