Calling on the County Council to help protect SB7 bus services

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

MONDAY 17^th AUGUST 2026

 Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, and Great Ashby’s district councillors are urging Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to work with Arriva to prevent planned cuts to its SB7 bus service.

Strathern, and Great Ashby councillors Laura Williams and Vijaiya Poopisnglsam, have written to Herts County Council to ask the council to intervene to prevent the half-hourly service moving to just one bus per hour.

The SB7 service provides an important connection between Great Ashby, Stevenage town centre and surrounding areas, supporting residents travelling to work, education, healthcare appointments and local services.

The proposed changes come at a particularly challenging time for Great Ashby residents, with the community's Budgens supermarket set to remain closed until 2027. This will leave many residents increasingly reliant on travelling further afield for shopping and essential services at the very moment bus provision is being reduced.

Strathern and the councillors hope that by working together and utilising funding from central government to support key bus routes, the county council and Arriva can protect the 30 minute regularity of SB7 services.

Strathern has launched a petition, which can be seen here, to gather public support for his call.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

"The SB7 is a lifeline service for many residents in Great Ashby. Cutting the frequency from every 30 minutes to every hour would make it harder for people to get to work, school, medical appointments and local services.

"With the local shop now closed until 2027 after a recent fire, this couldn't be coming at a worse time for Great Ashby. 

"Great Ashby deserves better. Now is not the moment to reduce connectivity. We are calling on Hertfordshire County Council and Arriva to work together to find a solution that protects this important service."