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The Chairman welcomed Mr Rankin of First Bus to the Committee.
County Councillor Castle summarised the feelings of the Committee in relation to the need for a bus link to the Gapton Hall Industrial Unit. The Member Services Officer read a letter to the Committee that had been received from a resident of the Borough stating their concerns in relation to County Councillor Castles article that had appeared in the local paper in relation to the bus link. County Councillor Castle stated that he felt people of Great Yarmouth who did not own or have access to a vehicle have a right to be able to go to the out of town retailers.
Mr Iain Rankine, First Buses summarised the main issues surrounding a bus link to Gapton Hall retail park to the Committee, he reported that due to lack of infrastructure and volume of traffic around the Gapton Hall Industrial Estate a bus link would be unrealistic, although he stated that the bus company itself were not adverse to looking at different ideas but that they would not be prepared to do this themselves.
The Chairman asked in relation to the reinstatement of a bus service through Cobholm, and he was advised that funding had been deleted for this service. Councillor Jeal asked whether there was a possibility that a small bus could be provided to service this area, and he was advised that this was not possible although it was pointed out that Norfolk County Council have a bus service which runs on a Thursday and Friday which services the villages and Gapton Hall.
Mr Langley raised his concerns to the lack of vision in relation to the need for an out of town bus service, he pointed out that there were effectively two town centres, a historic one and the Gapton Hall estate, and he felt that a bus link would allow residents to not only get to Gapton Hall easier, but could also bring people back into town.
Councillor Jeal asked in relation to the revised bus schedule at St Peters Road and raised concern at the lack of bus stops available on this route, and he was advised that this matter was being looked in to.