New Campaign Launched to Improve the 67 Bus Service

Itchen Valley residents are invited to take part in a new community-led campaign aimed at improving local bus services - starting with the Stagecoach 67 route.

An interactive online tool, My Ideal Bus Journey, has been designed to capture how people would like to use local bus services, where current provision falls short, and what improvements are needed.

The campaign focuses on better connecting communities along the current route of the 67 bus service across Winchester, Kings Worthy, Easton, Martyr Worthy, Avington, Itchen Abbas, Itchen Stoke, Alresford, Tichborne, Cheriton, Hinton Ampner, Bramdean, West Meon, East Meon, Stroud and Petersfield.

At present, many residents experience limited and unreliable services, with particular gaps in early morning, evening and Sunday provision. The imbalance between the more frequent 64 service and the less frequent 67 has also left many Itchen Valley villages at a disadvantage.

This new campaign seeks to address these issues by gathering real, evidence-based data directly from residents. By recording desired journeys and highlighting unmet demand, the tool will help build a compelling case to Hampshire County Council and bus operators for improvements - including revised timetables, increased frequency, and potentially new or amended routes. Similar campaigns elsewhere in the County have already demonstrated its value in identifying thousands of potential journey improvements each year. The more people who take part, the stronger the evidence base becomes.

As well as service improvements, the campaign is also exploring wider issues such as reducing car dependency, improving accessibility for older and younger residents, and supporting more sustainable transport options - including the potential for zero-emission buses.

The Itchen Valley Parish Council is encouraging all residents to take a few minutes to complete the online tool and make their views known.

Have your say here: https://myidealbusjourney.org.uk/active-campaigns/campaigns?link=000005

The campaign will formally feed into discussions with Hampshire County Council, including an urgent review of bus services in the Itchen Valley, with the aim of establishing clear service standards and greater accountability for providers.

With public transport provision under increasing pressure, this community-driven approach offers a practical way for residents to shape the future of local services.

Your feedback matters - and together, we can make the case for a better bus service in the Itchen Valley.

WINCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

Small grants funding opportunities

Winchester City Council has recently opened new small grant schemes for community and voluntary organisations, across the district - click the links below to find out more about each scheme!

District Small Grants Scheme: Grants of up to £700 available for community groups and charities 

Greener Faster Small Grants Scheme: Grants of up to £1,000 available to support organisations that contribute to our Greener Faster priorities.  Please note that applications for this scheme are due on 29th June.

If you’re part of, or know of, a community group that could make use of a one-off grant to support community activities or sustainability initiatives, be sure to check out these funding opportunities!  Please get in touch if you need further information on [email protected] 

 

The Meon Valley Bus

 

The Meon Valley Bus provides public transport services to all residents and visitors within the Meon Valley. Our scheduled service runs on Mondays to Fareham, on Wednesdays to Petersfield and on Fridays to Winchester, picking passengers up at convenient points within the Meon Valley. Passengers are able to spend about 2 hours at the destination town before the return journey.

Everyone is welcome on our scheduled services, including children and dogs (dogs are subject to driver discretion). Please see the Timetable page  for details of our scheduled services. 

Follow the link for more details https://meonvalleybus.co.uk/

PLAY AREA - RECREATION GROUND

Many of you will have seen that the renovation of the play area flooring is now complete. It has been very dry so despite our regular watering the grass seed has only just started to germinate. Unfortunately, we do not think that we will be able to reopen the play area yet. We know that this is not ideal but the result in the longer term will be a much-improved safety surface for the children. Thank you for your patience.

Cheriton Parish Council

Latest SDNPA Planning News - https://mailchi.mp/southdowns/sdnpa-planning-news-spring-2025

Latest South Downs News - https://mailchi.mp/southdowns.gov.uk/south-downs-news-march-2026

Winchester City Council News - https://mailchi.mp/winchester/your-council-news-8-march-15074122?e=5e1e6ab878

Cheriton Community News - https://mailchi.mp/db3f1d958022/cheriton-community-news?e=90789ca6c7