Pilot bus service for Highlands College

20.09.22

13 Deputy R.J. Ward of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the pilot bus service

for Highlands College (OQ.241/2020):

I am sure my French teacher would be proud if I was to ask this in French but I will continue in English. What was the outcome of the pilot bus service for Highlands College from Liberation Station?

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure):

A morning peak service operated service 17 between the bus station and Highlands College, which was run by LibertyBus in spring 2019. After meetings between the 2 organisations indicated there was enough interest to warrant the pilot. Actual demand for the service proved to be lower than initially expected. Despite efforts from Highlands College and LibertyBus to promote the facility fewer than 40 student trips in total were recorded on the service between the summer holidays. Due to the low demand it was decided at the end of the term the service 17 would not be reinstated in September 2019.

1. Deputy R.J. Ward :

Was consideration taken of the fact that at Highlands College there are many different starting times throughout the day and evening and so, therefore, it may well have been that simply the bus service timing was inappropriate to attract significant numbers?

[11:30]

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Indeed, this was an initiative brought forward by LibertyBus, which is something I really approved of. I thought it an excellent initiative to pick up the students and take them straight into campus. I thought: "Excellent idea." But sadly it did not work. LibertyBus officials attended many events at Highlands College, they consulted with the students, they tried to work out the best times and there was a lot of publicity down at LibertyBus station on the big screens there, with the students, leaflets, and Highlands College leafleted it widely. But sadly the bus was not taken up and I think there was about 40 students used it in total. I would like to see it return possibly in the future but at the moment it is not feasible.

Deputy R.J. Ward :

With respect I do not want to use up my final supplementary on a question that I have already asked.

The Bailiff :

You do not get a final supplementary if you have had a supplementary and no one else has asked a question, so this is your last question. So do you want to clarify what the position is?

Deputy R.J. Ward :

Yes, I would like to clarify. I asked about whether an understanding of the different timings in which students may travel to Highlands was undertaken by LibertyBus, i.e. not just at peak times but throughout the day when the bus service may have been more useful was undertaken. I got the same answer again.

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

The students at Highlands College were interviewed. There was a lot of research going on in the background by Highlands College themselves and LibertyBus to work out the best times, et cetera. But sadly the buses were not taken up, which I find quite sad. I am with the Deputy on this, I would love to have seen this work, as I say, and take students straight into campus. But there was an awful lot of research done but sadly it was not taken up.

2. Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour :

I wonder if the Minister could explain why there are buses for Hautlieu, J.C.G. (Jersey College for Girls), Victoria College, Beaulieu and De La Salle but not for Highlands who are doing equivalent to A- levels? Were any shared services considered?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

All bus services are shared. A lot of students use the student bus service, a lot of students use the regular bus service or a combination of both. It is whatever is convenient for the student. As I say, this was an initiative by LibertyBus and all the consultation was carried out in consultation of Highlands College to find the best service possible.

3. Deputy J.M. Maçon:

Does the Minister think, therefore, that it is about time that we had - as Deputy Southern has called for, for many years - a town Hoppa bus service?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Well that is another different kettle of fish altogether. A Hoppa service would not necessarily go to Highlands College. But anywhere where there is a demand for bus services I would encourage LibertyBus to put a bus on there. But, as I say, it is quite sad that this particular service was not taken up.

4. Deputy R.J. Ward :

I am always perplexed when a trial is undertaken with the notion of a consultation fully beforehand. Would the Minister agree that in order to change behaviour one has to invest for a longer period of time and look at flexibility such as an all-day service of the Hoppa type that was mentioned by Deputy Maçon, in order to change the behaviour of people as much as anything else. Would the Minister consider trying this again as we move into the coming years and try to address a sustainable transport policy and a climate change initiative?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Yes, indeed, I would encourage LibertyBus to give it another try, absolutely. The more people on the buses the better. Obviously we have COVID at the moment. This trial took place in 2019 but as soon as COVID is over I would hope that LibertyBus would try it again; I would encourage them to do so. As I say, there was extensive lobbying of students, posters were put up at Highlands College, leaflets were sent out to students by Highlands College, T.V. (television) screens at Liberation Station, hard copies were also displayed at Liberation Station and they did go the full way. But I would encourage them to try again in the future in liaison with Highlands College. Indeed, the more people that use buses the less cars on the road, the less traffic, which is all good for the S.T.P. (Sustainable Transport Policy).