Southdown Buses divert due to poor state of roads

[MotCO]

Southdown Buses has diverted routes 424 and 422 in Horley and Reigate respectively since poor road surfaces are damaging their vehicles. However, Surrey County Council (renown for having some of the worst road conditions) deny that these roads are scheduled for resurfacing, so the diversions could be long-term. Aside from normal roadworks, have any other routes been diverted for these reasons?

Bus company axes parts of Surrey routes due to 'dreadful' roads

Diversions will remain in place until repairs are made

www.getsurrey.co.uk

Southdown Buses axes parts of regular Surrey routes as 'dreadful' road surfaces are damaging vehicles

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A bus company has taken the move of axing parts of some regular routes because it says the road surface is so bad it is damaging vehicles. Diversions from the normal bus route will remain in place for two services until repairs are made.

Southdown Buses altered parts of the 422 and 424 routes in Horley and Reigate on Monday, and said it is now in discussion with highways authority Surrey County Council to find a resolution. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the diversions had been brought in because the road surface in some areas had deteriorated over the past few months to the point it is now causing "maintenance issues".

There are some "pinch points" where the road surface is not currently good enough, they said. Among the affected streets is Blackthorn Road in Reigate, described by one resident as "dreadful". The patchworked surface, pocked by holes and cracks, makes for a bumpy ride.

Announcing the diversions on Twitter last week, Southdown Buses, which operates a number of routes across East Surrey, said they would be in place "until further notice". That could take some time, with no repairs currently scheduled on some of the affected roads – and the county council deciding the condition of one road does not warrant any repairs, despite a request from a councillor.

"We are currently working with Surrey council to get it resolved," said the Southdown spokesperson. "We are in talks with them at the moment. They are working with us to resolve it.

"It [the route change] certainly isn’t permanent; it is just a temporary measure while we can get something done."

The 424 and 422 operate in a loop from Redhill Bus Station, with stops in areas including Woodhatch, Meadvale, East Surrey Hospital, Smallfield, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Shipley Bridge. They are currently not stopping at Hornbeam Road, Holly Road, Blackthorn Road and Copse Road in Woodhatch, and diverting via Woodhatch Road and Pendleton Road instead.