Notes from meeting held on 10th September 2013 at JSH.

Tom Morgan, General Manager of Kinchbus Loughborough gave us a presentation on the implications for Kinchbus of pedestrianisation of the Market Place.

A summary of the points made at the meeting appears below. Please add any further points in the comments section below.

• Kinchbus carried 30,000 people into Loughborough each week and that 52% got off in the Market Place which is a very convenient stop.
  
• Two way buses through the Market Place -
  

1. There would be no alteration to the service provided, only relocation of the Market Place bus stops to High St and Swan St and the Rushes in the other direction.
   
2. Potential to improve bus ridership and decrease the number of car journeys due to convenience.
   
3. Buses would travel at walking pace and in one direction only through Market Place,.
   
4. They were more likely to be on time due due to less congestion
   
5. There were buses in other pedestrianised shopping centres such as Belper and Central Avenue in West Bridgford where there was more than 1 bus every 5 minutes.
   

• No buses through the Market Place. All of the below are options we have looked into not definitive answers.
  

1. To be viable all town services, i.e. no. 5, 11 and 12 would operate in 2 halves stopping and turning round at each end of the Market Place.
   
2. This would sever cross town traffic which has significant usage, i.e. From the Hazel Road/Shelthorpe Road estates to Charnwood School, to the hospital from Forest Road and from the Derby Road side of town to the Post Office or the council offices and JSH.
   
3. The Sprint bus and probably the no. 4 wouldn't serve the south side of town as coming out of Greenclose Lane they would go left to get to the station. To do a loop would add too much in time, distance and cost.
   
4. The no. 2 to Sileby would go down Baxter Gate then onto the IRR and Leicester Rd , it would not go to the Rushes and the post office stop as it does now.
   
5. The no. 9 to Nottingham would also go down the High St and Baxter Gate.
   
6. The Skylink bus would use the IRR and not stop between the High St and the Regent Place.
   
7. This would have implications for parking , access and loading on Baxter Gate.
   
8. It would ruin any prospect of a bus interchange.
   

• Other Issues
  

1. Less convenience for customers in terms of stops.
   
2. The extra loop suggested round Ashby Square/Greenclose Lane/The Rushes would add at least 10 minutes to a journey which can't be absorbed into the schedule;
   
3. Alterations to cope with the challenges posed would produce a complex timetable together with reduced routes.
   
4. Reduced customer base due to a confusing timetable and longer journey time resulting in higher fares, reinforcing a downward spiral in services with a reduction in frequency. N.B. Currently town services are on a one hour loop

5. Each additional bus costs £150,000 a year to run and has to generate this level of income from either fares and/or subsidies. 

Other views expressed by those present

• Convenience. If they can't walk to the new stops, passengers wouldn't travel.
  
• The stops will be moved to the edges of the pedestrian area, whatever solution is followed for bus travel.
  
• Alternatives: Walk, cycle, go by car or choose an alternative destination . People in Ilkeston went to Derby instead.
  
• Bus passengers also travel through town, i.e. to the P.O. from the Derby Rd direction and to/from the Rushes shopping centre from the other direction.
  
• Car parks would be nearer to town and more convenient than bus stops and there was sure to be increased vehicular circulation on Baxter Gate and Ashby Square. Surely the County’s aspiration is to cut traffic and greenhouse emissions to meet its targets?
  
• Initially there should be a two way trial of buses, look at its performance, then it can be reduced to one way or no buses if it doesn't work. It would be more difficult to reinstate buses later, if not impossible. Buses would go slowly as drivers would be monitored so that there should be no problem at all.
  
• Bus stops are to be removed from the Market Place because of the narrow pavements and crossing points Wide pavements and a single track road require relocation of the stops.
  
• When the no. 2 had a temporary service, passenger numbers fell by 12%.
  
• Blackett Street in Newcastle had 2 way buses through a pedestrianised centre and it was fascinating to see how people stopped or diverted and then crossed. It worked though.
  
• Changes would allow cafes and seating outside in the Market Place with extra trees. There would be a good atmosphere with single track for buses and wider pavements on the opposite side of the road.
  
• Couldn't buses go round Frederick St after Ashby Sq and then continue up Forest Rd/Ashby Rd? A nice idea as it is still close to town and provides a direct route but doubt that it would be practical, definitely not for 2 way buses as there is residents parking on Frederick St. The no.3 already takes this route.
  
• There would be a great deal of congestion on Baxter Gate were buses not allowed through Market Place and it would require loading bans with no parking allowed on Baxter Gate. This would require a lot more 'policing' by street wardens to ensure that the increased number of buses having to use it could get through efficiently, at a cost to the Council.
  
• It is necessary to consider the safety and well-being of all people who use the town centre.  At current usage, there would be a bus a minute through the Market Place and many thousands of pedestrians.  Idling buses, backed up waiting to come through the Market Place will create pollution; people with mobility difficulties and those looking after small children will be unsafe;
  
• It is important for people to engage with the consultation so as to be fully informed about all sides of the issues.
  
• Encouraging bus travel is important for reducing CO2 emissions.
  
• One bus per minute travelling at walking speed (3mph) means a typical spacing between them of about 100m (actually 80m). This can scarcely be said to pose difficulties to pedestrians.
• rerouting might be made easier if bus companies could work together.

Subsequent comments made and received (including in Radio Leicester Interview)

• There will be a 6 week consultation on what should happen to bus services through a pedestrianised Loughborough centre towards the end of October.
  
• There are between 40-43 buses an hour which means one bus every 83 seconds. If walking speed is 3mph that means about 110m between buses, with one bus at a time between Baxtergate and Derby Square. With the elimination of car tarffic there should be no problem for pedestrians crossing.
  
• The pedestrian figures relates to the whole day, not the number crossing per minute (about 20).
  
• Why will the buses need to queue in large numbers to go through the Market Place. Sending them all up Baxter Gate would probably produce more pollution and more queues/blockages if cars continue to park illegally on the right hand side of the road. Why will people be unsafe with the buses? Granby Street crossing will be far more dangerous.
  
• The modern bus is a low emissions vehicles and their number would be greatly reduced when compared with current vehicle numbers.
  
• The elderly and disabled would be less inclined to travel if had to walk greater distances. Would this amount to age and/or disability discrimination?
  
• As someone with a walking disability, Ruth Youngs wouldn't feel intimidated as it would represent a great improvement. Currently there are continual streams of vehicles, cars waiting illegally at bus stops preventing buses from getting alongside the kerb to allow level access. This is far more dangerous for the less able bodied as they are likely to sustain an injury trying to get on the bus or not be able to get on a bus.
  
• It would be very tiring and time consuming for those with walking difficulties to move from Derby Sq to Woodgate Chambers and Charnwood Borough Council offices. This refers to the stops that are served now but which wouldn't be served by a single service if buses couldn't travel through the centre, for example the post office and the council offices for people from Derby Rd/Ashby Rd, and conversely The Rushes and Sainsburys from Forest/Park /Leicester Rds.
  
• If passengers can't walk to the new stops, passengers won't travel. Anne comments The stopand this would bs will be moved to the edges of the pedestrian area, whatever solution is followed for bus travel.
  
• The no.4 and Sprint buses travel down Greenclose Lane. Operators would probably choose to just go left onto the Rushes and down to the station were they not allowed through the Market Place as this provide a more convenient and faster service for most passengers. People living on Forest/Park /Leicester Rd. side of town would have no direct interchange to these buses.
  
• The no.2 from Barrow and Sileby passengers would no longer have direct travel to/from the Rushes centre, Tescos and Sainsburys. Instead they would have to carry heavy bags to Baxter Gate to catch a bus.
  
• Banning buses from the centre of town is likely to 'force' more elderly people to drive in if they have access to a car, this exacerbates congestion and pollution.
  
• Pedestrians who access the town by car usually do not appreciate the problems faced by bus users.
  

Leicestershire Food Links(LFL).

Presentation by Sue Richardson, March 9

Sue introduced herself by saying that she'd worked and travelled overseas for Christian Aid where food and access to it, whether it be through farming or earned income was an important issue.

In Leicestershire is food sustainable, organic or local, how is it processed and marketed? We were told that this raised issues of power and the vulnerability of the consumer and were asked to consider the role food plays in the local community. Recently Friends of the Earth had organised an event called 'Meeting the farmer' to present what farmers wanted from local food production as it involves economics, sociology and politics.

Leicestershire Food Links was established just over 10 years ago from the pilot project Food Futures, connecting consumers to local farmers. This was organised and funded by the County Council and the Soil Association and ran for 18 months.. Out of this Leicestershire Food Links was established as a not-for-profit-organisation. Sally Hooper was appointed as administrator and is supported by a volunteer committee of both consumer representatives and producers who help with activities. A strong group network exists to address and promote local and excellent quality food. Local? What about fair trade and foods that aren't be grown locally? Excellent' means that there is faith and confidence in the food.

Leicestershire Food Links run 6 Farmers Markets in the County under the umbrella of 'Farmer' .LFL are about to launch the 7^th farmers market in Humberstone Gate, Leicester. LFL also organise and take part in special events and educational presentations.

Leicestershire Food Links is a membership group and has 50 producer members who can see how their interests can be advanced. They also need consumer feedback on the quality, access to and price of foods. Leicestershire Food Links offer specialist training to farmers, such as on the presentation of their foods and on engaging with the public, and also on hygiene training. LFL likes to offer a varied food experience to the public. Local or indigenous food, ie. ostrich, also many vegetables that we use weren't originally local but came from abroad. Cheese such as Lincolnshire Poacher, jams and other cooked food made with produce from the farm, a selection of herbs, chillies and an explanation of many of them and advice on how to grow your own. The Transition group became involved with an apple press and a pasteuriser which they offer to groups.

We were told that there has been a marked decline in the number of small holdings and that knowledge and money is being lost locally. This has an impact on food supply, security and distribution. Many varieties of food have been lost. Seasonality? We can eat most things we want all year round, but hasn't that decreased the quality and experience? There are health implications involved as there are now more food scares related to the way animals are reared, fed and slaughtered, the processing of food and contaminants. People are getting fatter, caused by the way and the type of food we eat. 75% of what we eat comes from just 20 species. We know less and less abut food, are we aware of its seasonality?

Food security: Farming processes exposed to diseases, this leads to a lot of bureaucracy

We are vulnerable as supermarkets and warehouses don't hold large stocks. LFL believe we could become more skilled and enjoy a more humane shopping experience. We could also reduce wastage and at the same time be helping local farmers. LFL has big goals, it wants to work at tackling these.

LFL is represented at food events such as Belgrave Food Festival, country fairs , at schools, community groups and community fairs such as Melton Mowbray, and at specialist events such as Game events where game pies, pates and peeling of birds in which the public were engaged.

We were told that growing your own is a way of de stressing, a way of dealing with psycho-sociological problems. Its also a social activity, gives you physical activity from the bending and stretching involved Anyone can join, get involved in and shop at Farmers Markets, support local food events and ask schools and councils to support Leicestershire Food Links

The range of food is limited so sometimes LFL needs to extend the geographical boundary to 100 miles, ie. hard cheese, such as Lincolnshire Poacher and to some Lincolnshire producers and for fish. LFL stipulate that no artificial colours or flavours are used, that eggs are free range or barn reared.

T Reasons to support local food? Its fresh, products made from local food are delicious and worth paying for, it keeps well, its provenance is known and you can talk to producers, thee is continuity with consumer, less packaging, fewer food miles are just some of the reasons.