Your Swindon, Your Verdict is the first major survey into what Adver readers really think of the key issues affecting our town. More than 880 readers responded. In the fourth of a series of special reports Anthony Osborne looks at what readers think of the town's transport system

IT SEEMS that most people are satisfied with public transport in Swindon.

But cheaper fares and more frequent services will get more people onto buses and trains.

That is the result of the Evening Advertiser's Your Swindon, Your Verdict survey, which asked what you, the readers thought of the town's public transport system.

More than 40 per cent of you said they were satisfied by the town's public transport services, while almost a quarter said services were good and 11 per cent said they were very good.

Readers were also offered eight choices to tackle the problem including more bus lanes, higher parking charges and even the construction of more park and rides.

But the response was clear-cut, with around 23 per cent wanting cheaper fares and around 24 per cent saying that more frequent services would get them out of their cars and onto greener public transport.

John Owen, managing director of Thamesdown Transport said he was satisfied with the findings of the poll, but said there was still more work to be done.

"Whilst we still need to do more, I am pleased that most people think services in the town are satisfactory or better and I think that shows the considerable strides made by the town's two major bus companies over the last five years."

But both Mr Owen and Ian Manning, managing director of Stagecoach in the West Country insist that the town's bus passengers are getting a good deal when it comes to fares, but admit more needs to be done with service frequency.

"When it comes to lower fares and increased frequencies, we have to consider that both companies have to make a profit, said Mr Owen.

"I think bus users in the town are already getting a good deal, a whole day's travel is £2.30 and a whole week's unlimited travel is £10 for both companies so there are some good deals already."

Mr Manning said: "We are working improved frequency of services, and recently launched our Popin services to Highworth.

"We also boosted frequencies in other parts of the town and we are seeing better than expected growth of 30 per cent by having these 10 minute, clock-face frequencies."

Mr Owen added: "I am pleased to see that few people are concerned about punctuality, but we are now looking at new initiatives to try reduce the time it takes to pay a bus fare, we already have reduced the number of pay zones in the town to two.

"I also want to see a boost in certainty, so people know when a bus is coming through real-time bus information through their mobile phone or the internet."

"The council is delighted to see that over three quarters of respondents believe public transport is satisfactory to very good," said Coun Jemima Milton, Swindon's Cabinet member for Environment and Property.

Anthony Osborne