Users of a popular bus route that runs between Petersfield and Havant are calling for improvements to the service.

Earlier this year, Hampshire County Council (HCC) received £13 million from the Government to improve local bus services across the county.

Stagecoach’s 37 bus, used by Clanfield, Horndean, and Petersfield residents, didn’t receive any funding.

In addition, disabled passengers can no longer use their passes before 9.30am or after 11pm on weekdays, adding a double whammy.

A HCC spokesperson said: “The role of the Local Authority is to work in partnership with operators in their decision-making, and to target available additional funding provided to us by the Government.

“Routes that will see investment in improved timetables during the coming year, all have strong potential for growth.

“Stagecoach has identified several growing routes as priorities for improved timetables, which at this stage does not include the number 37 route, as it is not seeing sufficiently strong passenger growth. Future funding may include this route if passenger numbers increase.”

There is an ongoing campaign from residents to improve the 37 bus between Petersfield and Havant
There is an ongoing campaign from residents to improve the 37 bus between Petersfield and Havant (James Hogan)

Clanfield resident Marcela Payne, is a regular user of the 37 bus and holds a disabled person's bus pass.

She said: “Hampshire County Council cut the bus service from 13 buses a day to 11 per day, in September 2024. The bus service wasn’t great before September but now it’s shameful!

“Some passengers are left standing around because they’ve reached their destination so early or have to wait long periods of time to catch their bus home, after a long day at work!

“Now the disabled person can't get the bus until 9.30am. I had an appointment at QA Hospital at 9am, so I had to get the 8am bus, and had to pay. I was in a car accident, I don’t choose to be disabled.”

Marcela added that she and other residents sent their concerns about the 37 in a collective email to Councillor Lulu Bowerman, executive member for highways and passenger transport. According to Marcela, she did not address any of the concerns and said to contact Stagecoach.

Cllr James Hogan for Horndean Downs commented: “I’ll be contacting fellow local councillors to see if they will join me in contacting Hampshire County Council, and Stagecoach, the service operator, to ask why funding hasn’t been used to support the 37, and what can be done to reverse these damaging cuts.”

Stagecoach was contacted for comment about the £13 million funding in regard to the 37, they said to contact HCC.