Howard Robinson of Arriva Yorkshire stated this about the extension of the 935 route to the new 435 route:
"Passengers must realise that the changes are to accommodate the fact 448 is being withdrawn and is no longer sustainable due to the closure of Bretton Campus and in order to cover most of the route we need to increase journey times."
Once again it is made clear that it was the 448 route that was "no longer sustainable". So it is evident that, as mentioned in both the 5JULY report and communication with Arriva, as well as Neil Holt's comments about a service circulating in the very area we are on about *not* wanting included in the 435 route - the 448 route is not sustainable. It isn't getting enough passengers. It's not worth running etc. etc.
Now... considering that Stagecoach are actually covering all these very areas the 448 used to cover, between Bretton Roundabout and Denby Dale!
Why are Arriva insisting on replacing our 935 - which, while still funded by Metro rather than commercially run, had a distinct advantage over all other methods of public transport between Denby Dale, Wakefield and Holmfirth, and was therefore used by many who would otherwise not even dream of using an Arriva bus, or would take a taxi to get to the train station etc. - with a route that is identical with the - according to Arriva and Metro, unsustainable! - 448 route between Denby Dale and Wakefield*?
And if this 435 was ever meant to be a useful replacement for the many Holmfirth, Shepley, Upper Cumberworth, Denby Dale and Scissett residents who used to commute to and from Wakefield on a daily basis on the 935, or used it to reach Wakefield Westgate, do their shopping, banking etc. - Why is it deliberately timed far too slowly to make throughput from Holmfirth to Wakefield bearable? The route is just 4 miles longer than thje 935 route (except the first morning 935 from Holmfirth, which skipped Bretton Hall, so why does it take half an hour longer?
Because it doesn't that's why! 435 vehicles always end up waiting 5 or more minutes at several stops, including Thornes Bon Bon (the 1610 vehicle from Wakefield does, because students keep holding it up as the departure time is too early for all the Wakefield College students to make it on the bus!), Bretton Hall, Skelmanthorpe and worst of all Denby Dale Interchange, where the 435 sits for 5-10 minutes for NO reason. (There are no other buses etc. due in that time so it is just making the journey even more nerve-wracking to anyone foolish enough to think they are meant to use this bus to get from Wakefield to Holmfirth and back!)
So to sum it up:
Arriva are replacing the 448 (which is not sustainable) and the 935 (which was a popular and easily manageable - it allowed running the route with just two vehicles as it was less than an hour each way!), with... the 448 route between Wakefield and Denby Dale, a lengthy patch of waits to put off any throughput passengers, and a knee-jerk concession to the fact that the 935 was actually quite well-used by people in and around Holmfirth, not just by people in Denby Dale etc. In fact, as far as the morning commuter journey is concerned, Holmfirth residents made up almost half the total passengers, e.g. almost half the passengers (half if you included Shepley and Upper Cumberworth - these passengers have been lost from the X41 that replaces it though) to travel to Wakefield get on within the first 5 or so minutes of a 50 minute journey!
Our local regular drivers used to love this bus line, and it was well used by many locals to commute to work, school or Wakefield College on a daily basis, as well as by many Denby Dale corridor residents to do their shopping, banking etc. In addition, many people who regularly or irregularly travel to Wakefield Westgate, from both Denby Dale and Holmfirth, used to choose the 935 over the bus and train connection via Huddersfield.
The resulting changes have caused the Holmfirth - Wakefield link to go from being *the* most attractive choice to being the slowest and least attractive method of getting to Wakefield! If some of the daytime and night services weren't used enough, then why not reduce service frequency in those times instead of severing a valuable link for commuters, students and tourists alike without as much as a hint of awareness of - or sympathy for! - the chaos and upset they have caused.
Is it any wonder that these days, the 435 sees less passengers than EITHER the 935 or the 448, let alone anywhere near as many as those on the 448 and 935 combined?
Andrea Gill, 3rd November 2007
*Aside from one key area which is NOT served any longer - Asda in Durkar, which is the one place highlighted on the Kirklees website as being the supermarket of choice for most Scissett residents!
| Facilities |
Residents are served by the Doctors surgery and Health centre which is situated on Wakefield Road, the Dentist is also situated on Wakefield Road.
There is a good range of amenities in the area which briefly comprise of, grocery stores, fast food takeaways, bakery, butchers, newsagents, post office, hairdressers, and a mini-supermarket however most residents travel to Asda at Durker in Wakefield or one of the major supermarkets in Huddersfield for their main grocery shopping. |