Why We're Doing The Petition. Why You Should Sign It.

As many regular visitors, Twitter followers and other members of the public will now be aware, we are on a campaign to get the 111 back to Torquay instead of it being withdrawn on Monday, 23rd May.

First of all, a huge thank you and virtual high five is due to all who have signed so far, bringing the total to 41 signatures.

But some may ask the question: "Why does it need restoring to its original route? And why the huge deal?"

There are so many reasons why the 111 must not be allowed to go.

Number 1, in my book, is the fact that many elderly people used it to access Torbay Hospital & The Willows from Dartmouth, Harbertonford, Halwell, Totnes, Berry Pomeroy & Marldon. Passengers from Totnes onwards can still do this, but only with a few trips a day on the new Country Bus 149.

Many members of the public that we met today in Dartmouth & Totnes in the tourist information centres, Co-Op, Sainsbury's, Lidl and the Dartmouth Riverboats all had the same message, and it was loud and clear: they feel it's disgusting and awful that their local bus service that they use to get to work and out and about is going.

The staff in the Dartmouth Co-Op had to almost stop serving at the tills in utter disbelief at the fact that it was being withdrawn. Some weren't even aware that this was the case. So our posters and petition information really did cause a stir amongst all the staff in the Co-Op. The posters were displayed, and we're now counting on all staff and shoppers there to sign it.

And over at the Dartmouth Riverboats, it was the same story. The advertising manager said his mother is now unable to get to The Willows shopping centre in Torquay due to the route change to serve Paignton instead of Torquay. The petition is to get the route back to where it was, thus serving the hospital and The Willows once again. The manager was extremely kind and let us put the posters up for free on the passenger ferry and the riverboats between Dartmouth & Totnes.

The response was immense in Totnes, too, where the fish & chip shop near Coronation Road put up the poster immediately with no questions.

We'd like to thank everyone who is in support of this.

And for those of you who know other without Internet access, there's something we've organised...

This Saturday, 14th May, the petition will be available to sign in Save The Children's shop in Totnes between 10:00 and 13:00. We encourage as many people as possible to come and sign it.

(We'd like to point out very quickly that the petition has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with Save the Children.)

Keep passing the message on. We're 100% determined and committed to getting the 111 back for you, the passengers and people who depend and use this service on a daily basis.

Once again, a huge THANK YOU to all!

Sign the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tbr/