Witham MP, Priti Patel, has backed calls for a direct bus route from Witham to Broomfield Hospital to be established.
Currently, there is no direct bus service to Broomfield Hospital from Witham and patients need to change buses in either Chelmsford or Braintree. This results in a total journey time of between 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
Ms Patel has urged local bus operators to establish a direct bus service, as well as calling on the Government and Essex County Council to provide funding to support a trial service in the constituency.
Ms Patel said:
“Broomfield Hospital is frequently used by my constituents for routine appointments and I regularly receive correspondence from patients and hospital staff detailing the difficulties they experience when travelling to Broomfield.
“I have been in contact with local bus operators about the possibility of introducing a direct bus service from Witham to Broomfield and I am disappointed that no operators have thought that a new, direct bus service is in their interest. A direct bus service is in the interests of my constituents and both patients and staff have voiced support for the establishment of a new bus route.
“I have called on the Department for Transport and Essex County Council to provide support and funding for this proposal so we can work with the operators to trial a service in the constituency to check its viability. I hope this funding is secured so this essential bus service can be established for my constituents.”