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We have many bus stops, but zero buses - student

John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromBury
John Devine/BBC Harriet Copley has red dyed hair with a black cardigan over a blue strapped top with black beaded necklace with a silver necklace attached. Behind her is a green metal bus stop shelter with a timetable board on the right on a lamppost.John Devine/BBC
Harriet Copley says many residents may not even realise the Stagecoach 31 service will be withdrawn at the end of August

People have voiced concerns that recently installed bus stops around their village will become redundant when a bus service ends next month.

Bury, Cambridgeshire, currently has three bus stops for the 31 bus route, operated by Stagecoach, which connects the village with Ramsey, Whittlesey and Peterborough.

The full service will stop running in Bury on 31 August, but the 31 route will continue to serve Whittlesey and Peterborough, Stagecoach said.

"Bury will be the place with so many bus stops, but zero buses servicing it," said 16-year-old student Harriet Copley, who will be attending college in Peterborough from September.

"My younger brother attends a college in Whittlesey, they don't have a school bus service so he won't be able to get there," she added.

Ms Copley said that many residents may not even realise the bus service was due to end.

"It will really hit the elderly too, who rely on buses," she added.

John Devine/BBC Andrew Copley has dark short hair, with grey flecks, he is wearing glasses with black frames and a dark V-necked T-shirt. Behind him is a bus stop shelter with timetable sign to the right.John Devine/BBC
Andrew Copley says affordable housing is being built nearby and residents may rely on buses more and not have their own transport

The Hyde Group has been redeveloping the nearby former RAF Upwood into 160 properties and the company plans to install four bus stops on the site.

The developer said it was installing the bus stops to fulfil a condition of its Section 278 agreement with Huntingdon District Council.

It added that it was not aware of the future plans for the bus service.

Andrew Copley, 51, Harriet's dad who also lives in Bury, said the route's closure was "absolutely crazy".

"The Hyde Group developers are looking to install even more bus stops which makes no sense with the 31 bus service ending on 31 August."

Mr Copley added that with 160 new homes being built on the nearby former RAF Upwood site "new residents will require employment and a way to get to work".

"People in affordable housing might not have their own transport and may need to rely on the bus service, they'll have the bus stops - but no buses," he added.

John Devine/BBC A green metal bus shelter with no sides, just a back fitted with four panels of Perspex and a flat roof of similar design, there is a matrix electronic sign on the left and a standard bus timetable on the right attached to a grey post, the street is lines with hedge and trees with some driveways in between.John Devine/BBC
Allison Homes paid £15,696.97 in 2023 to Huntingdonshire District Council for it to install and maintain two bus stops on Upwood Road in Bury

A spokesperson for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority said: "We're aware that Stagecoach will withdraw the Ramsey to Whittlesey section of route 31 from 31 August.

"To help, we've secured two 'shopper-style' Ramsey to Peterborough trips in the new route 32 timetable. These are out to procure now, and we hope to confirm them shortly.

"We remain open to any proposals from bus operators for restoring the service in full or part.

"It's another reminder of the challenges of our deregulated bus system, where operators can withdraw services at short notice.

"Franchising is an opportunity to review the entire bus route network. This will be part of an independent review of how to put in place bus franchising for the region."

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: "The bus shelter and digital display on Upwood Road, Bury, were provided and installed by developers at no cost to the county council.

"This was part of an agreement which predates Stagecoach's decision to stop the service 31 bus route.

"Having these provisions in place provides an opportunity to reinstate a bus route in the future at minimal public cost."

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