NO ALTERATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21852, 24 October 1945, Page 4

NO ALTERATION

HOSPITAL BUS TRIPS FEEDER SERVICE MOOTED COUNCIL'S DECISION No alteration to the existing bud service to the Cook Hospital is to be made by the Gisborne Borough Council, but the council is to recommend to the Cook Hospital Board the running of a “feeder service” from the hospital to the intersection of Hospital and Ormond roads. Reporting to last night’s meeting of the council, the bus committee stated that the request of the Cook Hospital Board for additional trips to be run to the hospital was considered at length. The town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins, advised the committee that following on the board's previous request, dated November 21, 1944, all additional trips then asked for were agreed to, with the exception of a service at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to meet the needs of the staff, and one at 11 a.m. for out-patients. These latter trips it was found impossible to run without disorganising the services to other parts of the borough and at considerable additional running costs. Inquiries made of some members of the staff revealed they would patronise a service to meet their needs only in wet weather. “Another aspect to be considered in connection with the proposal to run a service to meet the needs of the staff,” continued the report, “is that the point of departure would be the Post Office, and as hospital employees no doubt reside in various parts of the borough, many of them would still have a considerable distance to walk to the bps. “It was pointed out that some of the additional trips now being run to the hospital are very poorly patronised. The 2.45 p.m. trip from the Post Office averages two passengers per day, and the 4 p.m. from the hospital an average of four passengers per day. It is obvious this results in a substantial loss. Comparison With Tauranga “At a recent meeting of the board a member drew comparisons with the service provided to the hospital at Tauranga with that of Gisborne. As previously advised, the hospital at Tauranga is situated at the terminus of one of the Tauranga Bus Company’s regular services, whereas the Cook Hospital is located off the main bus route to Mangapapa, the residents of which locality at present enjoy a daily service of 39 trips each way, exclusive of the special trips now being run to the hospital. If the Cook Hospital was as favourably situated as that of Tauranga, i.e., on a direct bus route, visitors, patients and staff would have the advantage of at least 39 trips per day. “The committee, taking all the circumstances into consideration, was unabie to recommend any further extension of the hospital service, hut suggests that the Cook Hospital Board consider running a ‘feeder service’ to and from the hospital from the bus stop at the intersection of Hospital and Ormond road 3 to cope with the needs of the staff and others who are unable to use the existing service to the hospital. “It must be remembered that there are many residents in the borough not residing on a direct bus route who have a considerable distance to walk before catching a bus.” The recommendations of the bus com-, mittee were adopted. \