Steve Brine has welcomed news that First Hampshire and Dorset has taken over the bus service 63 and 63A between Owslebury and Winchester, which will travel through villages in hos constituency including Shawford and Twyford.
Operating Monday to Friday, with a subsidy from Hampshire County Council, the route was taken over by First in late August. Each weekday, between 7:38am and 3:25pm the 63 runs three buses from Owslebury into Winchester, and three from the city centre back to Owslebury. The first and last bus of the day, the 63A, runs on school days only and follows a slightly altered route between Owslebury and The Westgate School — though the general public may still use the service.
The service 63 from Owslebury to Winchester starts at the Owslebury Ship Inn and passes through the out-lying villages of Twyford, Shawford and Compton Street before heading into the city centre via the Badger Farm Sainsburys, Woodfield Drive, Royal Hampshire County Hospital on Romsey Road, Winchester Railway Station, and finishes at Winchester Bus Station. The return journey leaves the city via St Georges Street, City Road, Winchester Railway Station and Romsey Road, and from there the bus follows the same route that it took for the inward journey.
The service 63A from Owslebury to Winchester begins at Morestead Cross Roads and stops at Owslebury Ship Inn for two minutes before heading into Central Winchester via Morestead Road and Chesil Street. It then goes past The Brooks Shopping Centre, St Georges Street, and takes Stockbridge Road and Cheriton Road to reach the route's final stop: The Westgate School. The return journey starts from The Westgate School and passes through North Walls and Eastgate Street to Winchester Bus station, from here it leaves the city via Chesil Street, crosses the motorway on the A31 and retraces the route of the inward journey along Morestead Road, finishing at Owslebury Ship Inn.
Talking about the new service, Matthew Kitchin, General Manager for First Hampshire and Dorset, said: "We are very pleased to be running the service 63 from Owslebury to Winchester. This will offer people access to important local destinations, such as Twyford Doctors' Surgery, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, shopping in Winchester city centre, as well as a link to the city's bus and railway stations.
"Service 63A's route is tailored to serve The Westgate School pupils but other customers are welcome to use the bus, and overall the new service 63 run by First is expected to benefit residents, providing a vital link to the villages of Owslebury, Twyford, Shawford and Compton Street and those living around Woodfield Drive."
Adding, Cllr Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, says: "The position as far as the funding for bus subsidies has not changed and, like authorities all over the country, we have less money to support bus services that are not commercially viable and we have had to concentrate on the most important journeys. That is to get to work, education, health services or to the shops. The journeys provided by Service 63 reflect this approach and include journeys for secondary school pupils funded by the home to school transport budget. I am pleased that First have felt able to provide extra journeys to those set out in the contract."
Steve Brine added: "This is good news I am sure for many people in outlying villages, particularly with regard to being able to access vital services such as RHCH."
More information...
The changes to the service 63 and 63A have only recently come into effect but for more information visit www.firstgroup.com/hampshire.
