TUMBLER Road resident, Hilda Cook went to a meeting of Harlow Council to make an appeal over there possible loss of the No 9 bus service.

Question: I’m Mrs Hilda Cook. I’m 90 years old and I’ve dealt with quite a few challenges during my life, including going on a lengthy strike because my employer refused to recognise our trade union. I was blacklisted and lost my job … but I was far from beaten.

This is my current campaign. If people cannot get out of their homes they become isolated, depressed and lonely. That can be extremely dangerous. If they can’t afford taxis, they’re trapped. Workers and students, like older people, depend on public transport (which should be publicly-owned and publicly-run, in my opinion!).

Hundreds of people depend on the Number 9 bus service. We won’t be able to get to work, to school, to the shops or to hospital.I know that you councillors care about out wellbeing. You care about what’s happening to us.

Whilst Harlow Council doesn’t control the bus service, it has plenty of influence. It has ideas, interest and initiative. We need your help now.What will you do to support Harlow residents at the mercy of bus service stoppage?

Reply from Councillor Russell Perrin (Leader of the Council):

Thank you Mrs Cook for raising this question. I agree with you that bus services are vital to many people and for some buses are the only affordable mode of transport. I also agree with you that if people cannot get out of their homes they can rapidly become isolated, depressed and lonely.

Loneliness, for what it is worth, in my opinion is a cruel infliction which we all have a duty to eliminate. As you will hear in my answer to Cllr Vince, I have asked officers to refer this to our bus users group to see what can be done. I also give you my personal assurance that I shall keep a close eye on the work of the bus user group and offer them any support I can to raise awareness of this important issue.