A note from your Clerk – Suffolkonboard

10th August 2023 | Parish Clerk Report

Suffolkonboard has been awarded some Bus Service Improvement Plan + funding by the DfT and are now looking at how this can be best spent.  One idea under consideration is restoring the 225/226 services between Newmarket and Haverhill that last ran in 2007 before budget cuts forced us to withdraw them.  They are asking for comments on the proposal from parishes that would be covered.  The last timetable operated is shown below for information:

Suffolkonboard 225 226 route

At present, the route is only indicating one stop in Wickhambrook (11:07am) on the route to Newmarket, and one return stop at 14:17.  We’d like to forward as much feedback as possible to Suffolkonboard and would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8CNJ32P – we’re asking what route you would be most likely to use and what time  you would need to get to  your destination and return home.  This could help get a better service into Wickhambrook.

Suffolkonboard’s additional funding from the DfT is only guaranteed up to the end of March 2025 at present.  As such, any services they put on will need to show strong passenger numbers by then – to the point that fares income could cover a significant portion of the operating costs – if they are to try and keep it going should the funding not be renewed.  This is why it’s important that we get as much information to them as possible about the sort of service you as residents need on this proposed route!

Finally, I was looking for an image to go with this post and found that Suffolkonboard post live bus times (which I didn’t know!)  follow this link and search for a bus stop near you – it will bring up the bus route and times of stops.

Would you like to find out more about Wickhambrook Parish Council