Direct service to Conquest not viable, says bus operator

At present, passengers travelling from Bexhill have to change at Silverhill for the remaining two miles.

Campaigners calling for a better public service to the district hospital had said extending the 710 service to avoid the change would involve minimal extra cost.

Stagecoach operations manager Tom Bridge said this was not true and would result in a substantial increase.

The 710 service which runs right through from Eastbourne to Hastings operates half-hourly and to extend it to the hospital would involve extra buses and extra wages.

Based on past experienced there was not sufficient demand to re-introduce a direct service.

Up until 2003, service 98 had provided a direct link but it had been pulled because of underuse.

"As a private company, we can't make a loss," said Mr Bridge. The other alternative was a subsidy from the county council but this would affect the council tax.

Hastings SOS Bus Campaign group says it has been surprised by the response following their appeal to residents to write or ring if they supported their call for change.

Chairman Barrie Ashby said he had heard from about 20 people, among them Mrs Rhoda Boniface, 82 of Jameson Road, who said getting to the hospital was a "nightmare".

Her 88-yea- old partner had four appointments booked at the hospital next month and since they had given up the car they relied on the buses to get them there.

She said they had asked for a hospital car once but the reaction they got from the doctors' surgery made her reticent to ask again.

"It comes out of their money in the practice."

She had used a local taxi in the past but fares cost around 9 one way.

Mr Ashby said he had heard from quite a few people who were very distressed at having to change buses.

"Going to the hospital can be stressful anyway and it's not fair they then have to change buses to get there."

Bexhill Caring Community in Sackville Road runs a caring community car which will take patients to appointments at all hospitals serving the area from Maidstone to Brighton and Haywards Heath.

The service can be booked and costs a suggested donation of 12 for the return trip to the Conquest.