CHANGES TO COMPASS BUS SERVICES
PHASE 1 FROM 3 OCTOBER 2011

Most Compass bus services are operated under contract to West Sussex County Council who are proposing cuts in the Transport budget of £2m over the next three years. This is over 40% of the current WSCC Transport budget which is far higher than most Councils are considering.

We can now confirm which Compass services which will be affected from 3rd October as a result of the cuts in the West Sussex County Council transport budget. In most cases this is a reduction in service rather than a complete withdrawal of the route. These initial cuts are not as serious for Compass as they could have been; but please note that Phase 2 is expected in March 2012 and unfortunately this may be far worse.

Route 19: Shoreham Beach to Holmbush
The service will finish at 1817 at Shoreham Beach, with the last two round trips being withdrawn.

Route 63 (Sundays): Horsham to Cranleigh
This Sunday service will be withdrawn completely.

Route 70: Horsham to Oakhill
This will continue to operate Mondays - Saturdays, however the additional afternoon journeys (14:50 and 15:50 from Tesco, plus 15:15 and 16:15 from Oakhill) on non-school days and Saturdays will be withdrawn due to insuffient patronage.
(NB - not part of WSCC cuts).

Route 70A (Sundays): Horsham to Oakhill
This Sunday service will be withdrawn completely. Please note that this is not actually part of the Council cuts but it is operated in conjunction with the Sunday 63 which is being withdrawn, and so it is no longer viable.

Route 74: Ashington to Horsham
Will start from Storrington and no longer serve Ashington. Slight reduction in frequency.
(Service 72/73 will be revised and will divert to serve Ashington on Tuesdays & Fridays).

Route 75/76: Petworth to Horsham
Renumbered as route 75. Off peak service largely withdrawn.
(Service 64 will be revised and divert to serve Kirdford & Wisborough Green on Mondays & Thursdays).

Route 100 (Sundays): Horsham to Pulborough
Sunday service to be withdrawn completely due to insufficient patronage. Mondays - Saturdays remain unaffected.
(NB - not part of WSCC cuts).

The following Compass services have had their Council funding withdrawn but will continue to operate commercially:
Route 17 (Sundays)
Route 23 (Sundays)
Horsham Schools (652, 662, 674, 682).

Please note that in conjunction with the above service reductions, the following timetables will be totally revised from 3rd October - although still operating on the same days:
Route 52 (Mondays & Thursdays)
Route 64 (Mondays & Thursdays)
Route 72 (Tuesdays & Fridays)
Route 73 (Tuesdays & Fridays)

We are obviously very disappointed at having to make these cuts, but given the County Council's decision to withdraw funding we have unfortunately been left with no option.

Chris Chatfield
Managing Director
27.07.11