This submission is from Clewer and Dedworth East Councillors, Alison Carpenter and Helen Price.
Our comments and recommendations are for our Ward, Clewer and Dedworth East.
The consultation as a process faced several challenges. It was “launched” we understand three times, with three closing dates. Leaflets were not widely distributed and at one stage the W1 and 16 buses and Dedworth Library did not have leaflets. The consultation is not easy to follow so we created a map for Dedworth showing the impact of the proposals.
Map 1 shows the impact of these proposals on Clewer & Dedworth East.
The residents negatively impacted by these proposals will be those who cannot drive, cannot afford a taxi and unable to walk any distance. Thus those residents most adversely impacted are likely to be the elderly poor. The question is how will this cohort of residents know about the consultation and be able to respond. They are less likely to use social media, they are less likely to go out and about. The 2022 Residents Survey states “Stark contrasts in preferences by age with a higher proportion of residents aged 55 & over ranking printed information and a higher proportion of residents aged 75 & over ranking speaking to council staff and local news sources in their top three.” Buses should have been distributing leaflets but we noticed that early on in the consultation they did not have leaflets
We, the ward Councillors, therefore believe that the number of responses received will not reflect the size of the impact of these proposals. We tried to mitigate this by informing the following organisations
- the day centres for our older residents namely Age Concern and King George VI
- the Churches (but are unsure if this was passed along)
- the Knit and Natter and Watercolour Groups in Dedworth Library, and ensuring that the Library staff were well briefed.
- GP surgery in Vale Road
- LEGOLAND and asked to circulate to its staff.
- the Post Office in Vale Road
- Sharing widely on social media requesting people to alert they knew who would be impacted.
- all users of the Manor Family Hub namely the Health Visiting Service, Everyone Health RBWM, Hartbeeps, Chatterbox, First Steps Freeschool
- the Executive Director of Adult Social Care
- Abri
- The Youth Council
- the Disability and Inclusion Forum
- the Older People’s Forum
- Optalis
- local newspapers
- local journalists
The Leaflet
RBWM produced leaflets for all the various routes. We wanted to put laminated leaflets on all the bus stops, but couldn’t obtain sufficient leaflets. The leaflet for the 16 and W1 states this contract ie the 16 and W1 “provides a reasonable replacement for most parts of route W1 that are not covered by route 2”. However on looking at the routes closely it provides NO such replacement. We are concerned therefore that users of the W1 service will accept the leaflet at face value and not look at the implications of the proposed changes and respond to the consultation. At the start of the consultation buses were handing out leaflets to their passengers but it appears this has not continued.
Impact
If a bus service is no longer available what do people do?
- Walk, needs to be reasonable distance, not all residents are able to walk even short distances, our pavements are poorly maintained which results in some residents, although able, are too scared to walk due to fear of tripping and falling.
- Cycle – need to own a bike and be confident to cycle. Not one dedicated cycle lane in Windsor. All shared with either road traffic or pedestrians.
- Car – the aim within rbwm is to REDUCE car usage not increase. In any case not all residents can drive or even own a car, so this choice is restricted to those who can afford to run a car. The 2021 Census reveals that 12.5% of Dedworth residents do not own a car or van. This is likely to be higher for the poorer and elderly residents.
- Taxi – this is available to those who can afford this expense.
From the above it is clear there is a cohort of residents who are unable to choose any of these options. Those who are poor and unable to drive or own a car and are unable to walk reasonable distances. Residents who live at the Northern central part of the Ward already have a good way to walk to a bus service. These proposals will make it even worse.
The GP service in Vale Road, the Dedworth Medical Centre is so concerned at the proposed cut that it has not only put up posters in the surgery but has posted the consultation on its home page urging patients to respond. https://www.dedworthmedicalcentre.co.uk/patientnews/6554af38a1a44049015621f2
The following publications clearly show why lack of a bus service will be severely detrimental to many residents within CDE.
Corporate Plan
We have a Corporate Plan which clearly sets out our goals and any decisions made by RBWM should at best help achieve these goals and at worse NOT conflict.
One of the goals is THRIVING COMMUNITIES “Where families and individual are empowered to achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential”.
Within this “A decrease in the proportion of adults who feel lonely always”
“Increase the percentage of residents who enjoy the borough’s green spaces on a regular basis and feel that they are able to access quality green spaces easily” “increase the passenger satisfaction and the number of bus journeys per head of population …”
It states “our approach is to : …focus on reducing inequalities, across all areas” It states that there are “pockets of deprivation within neighbourhoods.”. Within CDE we have sever pockets of deprivation, indeed the largest numbers of residents living in deprivation of any Ward in RBWM.
The Corporate Plan is being refreshed.
Removing access to their GP and indeed to the Manor Family Hub works completely against Aim 3. People will be less healthy and independent, neighbourhoods will be less inclusive and resilient.
The NatCen Transport and Inequality: and evidence review from the Dept of Transport . reinforces that the lack of access to public transport and access has a negative impact on inequalities. . https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60080f728fa8f50d8f210fbe/Transport_and_inequality_report_document.pdf
Age UK Risk of Loneliness 2015#6 indicates a high risk of loneliness for older people in parts of the ward. https://data.ageuk.org.uk/loneliness-maps/england-2016/windsor%20and%20maidenhead/
Dept of Transport – Inclusive Mobility – guide to best practice https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61d32bb7d3bf7f1f72b5ffd2/inclusive-mobility-a-guide-to-best-practice-on-access-to-pedestrian-and-transport-infrastructure.pdf This states in 9.1 that bus stops should be located so no one has to walk more than 400m from their home, and where there are gradients the maximum distance is reduced by 10m for every 1 m of rise or fall.
RBWM Bus Service Improvement Strategy https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-11/rbwm_bus_service_improvement_strategy_november_2021.pdf This proposal works against this.
https://bettertransport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Back_on_Track_Report_Mar_2021.pdf This parliamentary report indicates the relationship between access to transport in relation to inequality.
Our Proposals
Mindful of the financial constraints faced by the Borough, we have two alternatives to retaining the W1 service.
No 2 – Seek agreement from this commercial bus operator to change the route. This would increase the potential market and logically take up and thus income. We are proposing the route from Windsor central turns left from Dedworth Road into St Andrews Ave, right into St ‘Andrews Crescent, right into Bell View and right into Clewer Hill Road and continues on its normal course. When it turns right into Smiths Lane it has an alternate timetable. Timetable 1 it continues as is down Smiths Lane to Dedworth Road. Timetable 2 it turns into Smiths Lane, turns left into Tudor Way, Dedworth Drive, left into Hanover Way, right into Vale Road, left into Dedworth Road and continues on its normal route.
A more straightforward proposal and we assume cheaper, is to amend the no 16 service.
No 16 – Add more stops. From Windsor this turns right in Bell View, left into St Andrews Crescent, left into St Andrews Ave, left in Dedworth Road, right into Vale Road, left into Hanover Way, right into Dedworth Drive, Tudor Way, left into Smiths Lane and right into Dedworth Road and continues on its normal route. The return journey would be the reverse of this. This proposal adds another 1.1 miles to the No 16 route.