It was a small victory for local people last week. Representatives of Cottenham, Histon and Impington parish councils, David and Sue met Andy Campbell, MD of Stagecoach Cambridge on Monday. Glenn Edge of the County Council also attended.

The parish councillors made their case and highlighted the negative impact that the new timetables would have on local people. Andy listened and explained his position and his responsibility to Stagecoach’s shareholders. But most importantly, although he did not agree to reverse all of the proposed changes, he made a proposal which would go some way to addressing the councillors concerns and he agreed to look further at the impact of changes on bus capacity in peak periods.

David chaired the meeting. He said afterwards:  ‘We had a useful meeting with Stagecoach and it was perhaps the first really constructive one in which it talked directly to the Parish Councils. This should be the first of many in which we develop together a long term strategy for bus provision for our villages.’

Sue added: ‘I am still very disappointed that we haven’t managed to get Stagecoach to see the commercial sense in continuing the service to Station Road and Cambridge Road. Morally we had a strong point and Andy Campbell has responded positively to this aspect. It allows villagers to access the doctors and business during the day.’

(photo courtesy of the Histon and Impington Crier)