Bus cutbacks ‘cause pensioners stress’

Press, 23 August 1989, Page 8

Bus cutbacks ‘cause pensioners stress’

Cuts to bus services in Christchurch are causing pensioners considerable stress, says Mr Dennis O’Rourke, a Labour candidate standing for election in the Hagley Ward. Pensioners living in council flats at Mabel Howard Place and Jecks Place had been hit hard by the cuts, said Mr O’Rourke.

The shops were not close enough to be reached conveniently by foot and many of the residents did not have cars, he said. Mr O’Rourke said the community had a re-

sponsibility to ensure that senior citizens were given proper support. “This includes the provision of a better bus service than is at present being provided and at an affordable price.”

The chairman of the Christchurch Transport Board, Mr Pat Neary, said cuts in subsidy had forced the board to look carefully at its services. Mr Neary said the board had tried to reduce fares during off-peak times&or senior citizens to give f mem “every opportunity*? to use the buses. “When we find that

buses are not being used to sensible capacity we have to make changes. You can’t run buses if you have buses that have only two people and you have to have a fare-box recovery of 50 per cent. “Obviously in that situation we cannot afford to carry on the service.” Mr Neary said cuts had been made only in areas where there were alternative services running nearby.

"Care will have been taken to ensure that these people are riot too far off from another point” ”