Polly has welcomed the launch by Stagecoach of a new direct bus between South Thanet and Canterbury, following her long-running campaign which included a petition that gathered over 800 signatures.
The new Service 44 creates a direct Canterbury–South Thanet connection via Wingham, Sandwich, Cliffsend, Ramsgate and Westwood Cross, following discussions with local partners including Polly Billington MP.
Stagecoach South East is to introduce a new Service 44 connecting Canterbury with South Thanet, restoring a direct link between communities including Ramsgate, Cliffsend and Westwood Cross.
The new service has been developed following discussions with local partners, including East Thanet MP Polly Billington, who has highlighted the importance of a direct Canterbury connection for her constituents.
Service 44 will connect Canterbury, Wingham, Sandwich, Cliffsend, Ramsgate and Westwood Cross, providing a new direct link between Canterbury and South Thanet.
The new 44 will also work alongside the hourly Service 43 between Sandwich and Canterbury, maintaining a combined 30-minute frequency on that section of the route.
Polly said:
“In coastal towns like ours, reliable, affordable bus services are vital to keeping our communities connected and our economy moving. That’s why I’ve been campaigning for more than two years to restore a direct bus link between Ramsgate and Canterbury. More than 800 constituents backed my petition calling for this important change, and restoring this route was overwhelmingly the top priority in my residents’ bus survey.
“I’ve heard from people locally who have had to turn down job offers or training opportunities simply because they couldn’t afford to travel to Canterbury to take them up. I’m delighted this vital connection is being restored, and I want to thank Stagecoach for listening to the people of Thanet and working with me to make it happen.”
Joel Mitchell, Managing Director of Stagecoach South East, said:
“We know how important reliable bus services are to the communities we serve, and we have worked hard with Kent County Council and local representatives to find the best way forward for Thanet.
We are particularly pleased to be introducing the new 44, which restores a direct connection between Canterbury and South Thanet. This has been a long-standing local priority, and through careful route planning and timetable work we have been able to make this connection possible.
We are also pleased that we have been able to protect Services 9 and 32 and continue operating the 34, despite the significant financial pressures facing some parts of the network.
We recognise that changes to bus services can be difficult for communities, but our aim is to create a sustainable network that continues to connect as many people as possible. We are grateful to Kent County Council and local representatives for working constructively with us to achieve this.”