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A CAMPAIGNER fighting to keep the existing X66 services between Romsey and Winchester says the buses are not being marketed properly.

Six extra buses were added when South West Trains axed the Romsey to Winchester Rail-Link bus last December.

South West Trains agreed to pump cash into the X66 service while transport bosses monitored its use and in July a report is due out on their findings.

Nadine Taylor, leader of the Save our Bus Campaign, said they had demanded detailed marketing information from from Hampshire County Council and Stagecoach.

"We want know why and how they believe that by marketing to retired people, who want to pop into Winchester once a week shopping, they can increase revenue and passenger usage, when they have axed the daily commuter service," she said.

"We offered to set up and run an effective, targeted marketing campaign to promote this service for Hampshire County Council, but they placed conditions on our involvement that would have gagged us from speaking out on behalf of Romsey."

She added that with the prospect of 3,500 new houses being built in Romsey, the town needed better public transport.

"How long is it going to be before we bring Romsey to a standstill with cars? Not long, when you factor in all those generated by the Abbotswood development. Surely we should be saving what public transport we have and improving it, that must be more cost-effective than cutting it and realising in five years time that we need to reintroduce it all again," she said.

Hampshire's cabinet spokesman for the environment, Mel Kendal, said everything possible was being done to make the service a success.

"Criticising efforts to encourage people to use the service is unhelpful, as it is our aim to encourage as many people as possible to use it to safeguard its future when SWT makes its decision later this year," said Cllr Kendal.

He added: "Patronage is being monitored by the county council, which is working on a promotional campaign with SWT, Stagecoach, Winchester City Council and Test Valley Borough Council to help boost passenger numbers, so that SWT decides to retain the early-morning and evening journeys.

"This has entailed a leaflet drop to all households along the route with discounts vouchers, free journey vouchers, press articles and information on Hantsweb."

He added that the service was also being promoted to county and city council staff.

9:09am Friday 4th April 2008

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