Public Transport

Public transport to and from the outside world from Thorpe Morieux is provided currently by various local Bus Companies.

The link as shown will take you to the Bus timetables as currently listed.

 Rural Transport and its future

Transport is a key issue in Suffolk especially in rural areas such as ours. For most people car travel provides convenient access to work, schools, training, shops, health services and entertainment, but there are many people without the use of a car particularly the elderly, the young and those on low incomes who can't take full advantage of the range of opportunities available to them.

Local facilities and employment in villages have been in the decline over a number of years, meaning longer distances to travel and the cost of petrol or bus fares can add a high price to rural life.

The Government's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant has provided Suffolk County Council with about £1.2 million per year to support new or more frequent rural bus services in the County. However, until recently, this grant could not be used to keep existing bus services going and the County Council, as the transport authority, continues to have to find public money to keep important but non-commercial rural services going. Under the current de-regulated system, bus operators can withdraw or change commercial services at short notice.

Conventional bus services are not the answer to all transport needs. Elderly and disabled people may need door to door transport and especially adapted vehicles. Small scale, more flexible minibus services, community cars, shared cars or taxis may be more appropriate for isolated rural areas. Voluntary organisations, with help from local authorities are the main providers in these areas. A Suffolk Rural Partnership has been set up to use government funding to help community transport operators to develop their services and to encourage other local initiatives, for example by Parish Councils through their village appraisals.

Accessibility problems may be helped in other ways, not just by providing more public transport, but by reducing the need to travel, for example by home delivery services, mobile services and use of new information technology. Supporting existing services in villages could help to avoid further losses of local facilities. In the longer term, planning for new housing locations to be close to local facilities and employment will provide alternatives to long distance commuting and shopping trips.

Rural Transport Survey

The Parish Council has been asked to survey the Village for the County Council and Suffolk ACRE.

The aim of the survey is to obtain information to show whether it is necessary to improve upon the present level of public transport for the Village, and if so, how? The completed questionnaire will give a large amount of useful background information. For example, the work and shopping destinations, the most popular days for particular shopping centres, the proportion of trips made by public transport or other means, where children go to school and how they get there. Also, the number of people without a car and those who have to rely on public transport during the day, the numbers of children and retired people and where people have to go to the doctor. This all helps to indicate the local community's requirements for travel and to show the scope for improved public transport to satisfy some or all of these. For a worthwhile survey it is essential that as many as possible complete the form, not just those who use public transport at present. Please return the form supplied to either your Parish Councillor or post it in the letterbox at the Village Hall.