Hanover Inpractice

Picture reproduced with the kind permission of the Leicester Mercury.
When their local bus service was shelved,
Hanover Close residents vowed to bring it back.
The bus was a vital local service: without it
many residents struggled to visit friends and
to make regular trips to the shops, the library
and their local GP. Some residents even moved
out because they didn’t want to rely on taxis
or help from family and friends.
They needed to show that the route was
commercially viable. Estate manager Marion
Waddington knew that Hanover residents in
nearby Danbury Gardens needed a bus service
too. She supported residents from both estates
to lobby local bus companies, local councillors
and others at Leicester City Council.
Success came three years, and hours of
meetings, later: local company Thurmaston
agreed to serve both Hanover Close and
Danbury Gardens and the Council gave the
new route the formal nod.
HANOVER CLOSE AND DANBURY GARDENS, LEICESTER
Bus gets ‘Thurms-up’
“
The new bus service
is brilliant. It shows
that older people can
help each other and
make a difference.
”
– Margaret Murray, resident
The service started on 4 May and Marion says,
“I’m very proud of those residents who gave up
their time and spoke for others who were not able
to attend the meetings.” She thinks the campaign
worked because it had a clear aim backed up
with evidence, it targeted the right people and
it was driven by very determined residents!
� For local campaigning ideas go to:
www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved
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Hanover Inpractice