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Fighting for our bus services

  • Kevin Bonavia
  • 5 days ago
  • 1 min read

I’m standing with bus users, and have written to Arriva to oppose their decision to reduce the SB8 from every 30 minutes to every 45 minutes. Here's a digital copy of that letter.


The Stevenage Bus Users Group - BUGS and other residents have raised serious concerns with me about overcrowding, accessibility, delays and poor information when services change. Regular, reliable services are essential for many people to get to work, school, access healthcare, get to the shops and lots more.


We need more, better buses, not fewer. As well as risking leaving people unable to travel easily, cutting bus services would push more people to drive, increasing traffic and making it more inconvenient to get around our area.


I’m working with residents and local councillors to make sure bus users’ concerns are heard, and I’ll keep pushing Arriva for action.


The Government is giving local communities more powers to improve bus services. I want to see that ambition translated into better, more reliable and more accessible buses here in Stevenage.


I’ll keep pressing for the SB8 cut to be reversed.


Head of Commercial, Arriva By email only 27 August, 2026 Dear Sir, Reduction in Service of the SB8 Service in Stevenage I am writing with regard to the forthcoming changes to the Symonds Green Circular SB8 route in Stevenage, reducing service from every 30 minutes to 45 minutes. As I am sure you will know, the SB8 service is an invaluable service for residents of the ward, serving residents from all ages and backgrounds and reduction of this service will be felt dearly across Symonds Green. Having received correspondence from constituents and from my conversations with the Bus Users Group Stevenage (BUGS), there are a number of concerns I wish to raise: Prioritisation of Investment Whilst my constituents welcome the introduction of more services on the SB1 and the introduction of brand new vehicles as well as the refurbishment of existing vehicles in the fleet, they believe it would be more appropriate to prioritise investment to prevent service reduction, such as on the SB8 route. Quality of service In addition to preventing cuts to services, my constituents are especially concerned that the existing quality of services is poor, with regular delays and inadequate information provided for service changes. An example raised with me was at Bus Stop C, where I have been informed there is an absence of real time information and that for services such as SB7 and SB8, there are frequent delays and poor service tracking. Alongside this, constituents have raised that whilst changes to timetables are updated in a timely manner online, paper timetables are subject to long delays, with the last changes being updated in paper copies 2 months after the change came into force. Vehicle Accessibility One other concern raised was that accessibility requirements are not well accommodated on routes, with one constituent explaining how she already struggles to take her buggy onto the SB8 bus due to overcrowding, and that this problem will only be amplified by reducing services. I should therefore be grateful if you would consider reversing this decision, given the significant and adverse impact this would have upon residents of the ward as I have outlined above and for a response I can share with my concerned constituents. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Kevin Bonavia MP Member of Parliament for Stevenage

 
 
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