BUS company chiefs expect problems of overcrowding on early-morning services between Felixstowe and Ipswich to ease over the next few weeks.Villagers have expressed concern about the number of people using the buses, and say some buses have not even stopped because they have been full.

By Richard Cornwell

BUS company chiefs expect problems of overcrowding on early-morning services between Felixstowe and Ipswich to ease over the next few weeks.

Villagers have expressed concern about the number of people using the buses, and say some buses have not even stopped because they have been full.

Some passengers say even though they have season tickets, they have not had a seat in weeks, as they try to get to college, school and work.

Anger over plans to axe one service has also prompted hundreds of passengers to sign a protest petition.

But a spokesman for First Eastern Counties said the company was aware of the concerns and was monitoring the situation.

He said that early morning buses were fuller at the start of the academic year, but gradually got better as students learned their timetables and found that often they did not need to be at college so early.

"The buses will though be quite full at different times of the day but we do have four services running in the early part of the morning to get people from the Felixstowe and Trimley area into Ipswich," he said.

"In terms of overcrowding we do get statistics every week and are constantly monitoring the situation. If there are ongoing problems we will address them."

The bus company spokesman admitted that the 78 service, a bus which goes through the big Farmlands estate in Trimley, was to be cut.

He accepted that this would be "troublesome" for the elderly, but it would only mean a walk of around 200 yards extra for most people to reach a bus stop.

People in Trimley have suffered worst because of the bus problem as the vehicles are full with Felixstowe passengers by the time they reach the villages.

There is also no service between 8.10am and 9.12am to Ipswich, which has caused some people real problems if the earlier buses are full.

Trimley St Martin Parish Council has invited a representative of the bus company to its November meeting to talk about the problems and answer councillors' questions and concerns.

WEBLINK: www.firstbus.co.uk