Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, is delighted to have the backing of East Riding Council as he pushes for shorter and more frequent bus journeys to and from Withernsea.
During his meeting with the Transportation Services Manager for ERYC, Colin Walker, South East Holderness Ward Councillors Lyn Healing and Sean McMaster, and Councillor Nigel Wilkinson, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, Graham stressed the importance of improving the bus connections between Withernsea and other towns and villages in the area. This would increase the number of jobs accessible to local people and make it easier for tourists to enjoy all the town has to offer.
He welcomed the Council’s plans to expand three existing routes which include:
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Doubling the frequency of the 243 service from Beverley to Withernsea to Tuesday and Thursday
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Introducing a Sunday service for the 71 bus, connecting Withernsea and Easington all year round and Withernsea to Kilnsea and Spurn Point on a seasonal basis
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Funding the 72 community service connecting Withernsea and Burton Pidsea
While Graham supports these improvements, he called for ERYC to go further. Currently, the 75 bus runs just once every two hours between Hull, Hedon and Withernsea after 5.30pm. Graham asked for this to be increased to an hourly service to ensure people feel safe travelling to and from the town in the evening. More people from across Beverley and Holderness could enjoy an evening in Withernsea and working in the town would become more convenient.
Both Graham and Cllr Lyn Healing also made the case for the expansion of the 243 with the introduction of a Saturday service. This would allow more people to visit both towns at weekends.
These improvements are possible due to the £2.2 million the Council is receiving over the next two years as part of the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. ERYC is using this to roll out new services and improve existing timetables to help local people get to work, the shops and their family more easily.
Councillor Nigel Wilkinson, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, commented: “An affordable and reliable bus service is so important to people across Withernsea.
“We had a very positive meeting with Graham and the local ward Councillors which shows that the Council fully supports Graham’s aim to make it easier for people to travel to and from Withernsea.
“Thanks to the £2.2 million we have received from the Government through the Bus Improvement Plan, we are creating and extending bus routes to increase opportunities for people across the town.”
South East Holderness Ward Councillors Lyn Healing and Sean McMaster said: “Our meeting with Colin Walker proved to be very positive and we welcome the additional bus services to improve connections to and from Hull.
“We will continue working with Colin to increase connections to other towns across the East Riding.
“More people are using this form of transport and thanks to the reduction in fares we will hopefully see an even bigger increase in passengers enjoying all that Hull and the East Riding has to offer.”
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart commented: “Whenever I speak to people in Withernsea and Ward Councillors Lyn Healing, Sean McMaster and Claire Holmes, I am often told that better transport links would make a huge difference.
“That is why I am so pleased the Council is using some of the £2.2 million to make journeys between Withernsea and the surrounding towns and villages more convenient.
“I will continue to press the case for improved weekend services and more buses in the evening to increase the job and leisure opportunities available to everyone.”
