Bus stop signs and timetables have been reinstated along the route of Hambledon’s 503 bus service.

Only long-standing residents knew where the village bus stops were located following removal of the post and flags over the years. Earlier this year Hambledon Parish Council requested that the signs be reinstated as part of an initiative to raise the profile of the 503 service that links the village with Milford, Godalming and Guildford.

After a visit by Surrey County Council engineers it was agreed that three posts and flags would be re-erected; outside the Village Hall, beside the Merry Harriers and at the bus shelter at the Hydestile Crossroads (pictured below).

The 503 bus service is operated by Stagecoach but subsidised by Surrey County Council. Last year the council conducted a review of all of its subsidised services and concluded that some in rural areas would have to be axed, including the Hambledon service which, by then, had been reduced to twice a week.

The parish council campaigned to keep the service after consulting with residents, many elderly or infirm, for whom the service was a lifeline to reach shops and medical services. In the event, the service was saved and its frequency increased to three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) twice in each direction.

The parish council argued that although users of the 503 were small in number their need was greater than many. It also pointed out that it was unreasonable to offer pensioners with free bus passes only to withdraw the bus service.

With the service safe – for the time being at least – the council asked SCC to return the bus stop signs in the hope that other villagers may become more aware of the service and support it.

Timetables are attached to the new posts, which were erected two weeks ago. The bus may also be hailed along its route where it is safe for the driver to stop.

The photographs below show the two other stops; at the Village Hall and the Merry Harriers.