Photocall:Launch of Night Bus to Safety at 11am Monday 20 June. Cllr Frank Warby (Cabinet member for housing, health and crime) with Ch Insp Andy Henwood, focus group members and Mulleys bus outside Brazilia's, Station Hill, Bury St Edmunds.
A pioneering night bus service in Bury St Edmunds is set to help people get home quickly and safely after a night out at the town's clubs.
The new service, which will pick up clubbers from Brazilia's, Studio 3, Xtreme and Bar 3 and take them to the town's estates, is being funded for a trial period with £2000 from the Western Suffolk Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (WSCDRP). The idea is to get as many people off the streets and home as soon as possible, ensuring their safety and cutting the likelihood of anti-social behaviour as they wait for transport.
The first buses will run on 2 July with two pick-up points - behind Boots in St Andrew's Street South and on Station Hill by Brazilia's. A bus will leave from each of these at 1.45am, cover a set route with another run at 2.30am. Tickets, costing £3 each, and route information will be available in the clubs and uniformed police officers will be on each bus. Dropping off points will be used on the edge of estates to avoid noise from the buses disturbing residents.
A focus group involving representatives from the nightclubs, taxi drivers, Police and St Edmundsbury staff and councillors has worked on setting up the project and it's hoped that the night bus service will become self-financing. If the pilot is successful then the CDRP will look at expanding the service into other towns.
ENDS
Note: Partners in the Western Suffolk Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership include St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Forest Heath District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, Police, Primary Care Trust, Fire Service, Youth Offending Service and Probation.
The chairman is David Burnip, Chief Executive, Forest Heath District Council.
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
