Four Haverhill bus services take their final journeys

The last ever journeys have been taken in Haverhill by four public transport minibus services that have ceased due to falling passenger numbers.

The 348, 349, 350 and 351 routes operated by Star Cabs all came to an end on Friday, December 30.

Steve Hearn, owner of Haverhill-based Star Cabs, which had run the services for the past 15 years, said that providing them had become unsustainable due to the continual decline in the number of people using them over the past few years and rising costs.

The services are not subsidised by Suffolk County Council.

He added: “The use of the routes have gone down and down over the years.

“Obviously the older people (who were the passengers) are no longer here and they are not being replaced by the younger generation.

“It’s a very sad day as well. I’ve done the runs myself and it helps people get out and the bus driver who normally takes them, they all know him and he’s been the main driver for the 15 years.”

The 348 goes from the bus station to Chapple Drive four times per day from Monday to Friday.

Service 349 also runs Monday to Friday and carries passengers between the town centre and the Parkway and Clements estates.

The 350 covers the Arrendene and Chimswell estates, twice daily from Monday to Friday.

The 351 also operates from Monday to Friday, going between Haverhill and Great Bradley, via Withersfield and the Thurlows twice daily.

After a Great Bradley resident took up the issue with Cllr Bobby Bennett, who represents the area on Suffolk County Council and is the cabinet member for equality and communities, she replied to say: “As the local transport authority, Suffolk County Council is not permitted to influence the decisions of bus companies when they want to start, change or end a commercial route.

“We do have the power to tender contracts for replacement services when there is no commercial provision but out local bus budget is fully committed and there is not spare funding to support these routes.”

Journey’s can however, added Cllr Bennett, be provided by the Connecting Communities transport run by The Voluntary Network.