Julian Knight and Silhill local councillor, Robert Hulland have reacted with anger to the proposal of Centro, owned by National Express, to sever the vital bus link between Solihull town centre and Heartlands Hospital.
For years Centro has been running direct buses from Solihull to Heartlands hospital, which has proved a vital lifeline to visitors and patients alike.
But from next month, Centro is to enter a 12 week consultation on whether to end this direct bus service.
As a result, people wishing to visit the hospital for treatment or to visit relatives will see their journey times shoot up as they have to change at Yew Tree roundabout.
Julian Knight, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Solihull, says this is unacceptable: “At a time when Solihull is growing and we are seeing key services transferred to Heartlands Hospital it is frankly wrong that Centro are asking patients and visitors – many of whom are elderly, vulnerable or disabled – to clamber on and off buses.”
Julian Knight has started an e-petition calling on the bus company to change its plans for the No 73 bus service and has written to the company’s chief executive. “We have to come together to fight these cuts. The bus company has to understand that it has a duty of care to the people of Solihull, a town where it makes vast profit.”
Local councillor Robert Hulland who represents the ward that Solihull bus station is in is 100 per cent behind the campaign and in turn has written to the company. He added; “We have already seen Solihull Maternity Services transfer to Heartlands where 90% of Solihull Mum’s now have to travel and I am concerned that the loss of a direct bus route to Heartlands will place an added burden on patients, family and friends visiting, not to mention the hospital staff that may rely on public transport.”