Parish to make final negotiations for bus route

Residents are a giant step closer to Sompting’s new 7A Sunday and bank holiday bus service, which is planned to launch on Good Friday April 3.

Sompting Parish Councillor Kay Vincent has been the driving force behind the initiative and is now in the process of ironing out the last few creases in the contract.

In the agreement, Compass Travel will provide a Sunday and holiday service on route 7A, which will stop at Sedbury Road, Sylvan Road and Marquis of Granby in Sompting.

Lancing residents will also benefit from the new service that will take passengers to and from Worthing.

Initially, the 7a will run for a six month trial period to gauge its usage and see if the service is viable to continue.

At the full Sompting Parish Council meeting last Wednesday, Mrs Vincent said there is a risk of losing the service if residents do not use it.

She said: “People will be made aware that if it’s not used during the six months it won’t be continued.”

A launch event will take place later this month.

Mrs Vincent has been arranging the new service along with the managing director of Compass Travel, Chris Chatfield.

In 2012, Compass Travel took over the operation of the Stagecoach South route 7 in Worthing under a franchise agreement, and will therefore be operating the 7a also.

The parish has spent £2,500 on the initiative with £500 from Sompting Big Local. Sompting residents will be informed of the service via mail.