EXCLUSIVE by Ben Shahrabi
VULNERABLE and elderly people in the Maldon District risk being left without “desperately needed” transport to Broomfield Hospital, it is feared.
It comes following the closure of Arrow Taxi and the Essex & Suffolk DaRT, which runs which runs on-demand bus services throughout the region.
Declining passenger numbers and “spiralling costs” forced the company into liquidation, bosses have revealed. Up to 30 drivers could lose their jobs.
The most popular service at risk is the Number 99 from the Dengie Peninsula to Broomfield Hospital, which sees “between 1,000 and 2,000 passengers each month”.
However, Essex County Council insists it is “urgently identifying the best approach” for the service.
Jas Haley, Chief Operating Officer at Arrow Taxi, said: “We’re all heartbroken by it, but there was just no alternative.”
Andy Ambrose, who co-founded Arrow Taxi in 1985 and started the DaRT service in 2000, spoke exclusively to Caroline Coastal.
He said: “We never consider ourselves as ‘just a bus company’, we’ve always gone the extra mile for the community.
“We tried our best and I’m disappointed this had to happen.
“We lost a lot of passengers during COVID, although we ran services for NHS staff and key workers throughout.
“Passenger numbers are only 20 percent of what they were before the pandemic.”
Mr Ambrose says Essex County Council’s changes to routes - between Bradwell and Burnham, Burnham and South Woodham, Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden, Halstead and Sudbury, and north of Braintree - had a detrimental effect on the company.
Paula Spenceley, Maldon District councillor for Heybridge West, described the loss of the service as “very sad”.
She added: “Andy Ambrose has worked tirelessly to bring transport to those who so desperately need it across Maldon district. He is an amazing man with a real passion for the community. My thoughts are with him and all those involved.
“Another sad aspect is the potential loss of the service to Broomfield Hospital, especially given the threatened closure of our precious St Peter's Hospital.
“This is a very sad day for the community. As councillors, we will continue to lobby for decent transport services.”
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are sorry to hear that Essex and Suffolk DaRT and Arrow Taxi has ceased trading. They have been a close partner, running bus services in Essex.
“We are working urgently to identify the best approach for the services previously run by the company and will update residents as soon as we are able to.”
It is understood the 45 route between Bradwell and South Woodham Ferrers will be taken over by Stephenson's of Essex, and the 332/3/4 routes will be taken over by Vectare.
What are your views on the closure of Arrow Taxi and the DaRT Service? Get in touch via email to share your comments.
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