Wednesday 10 August 2011

Trip to Park Hall 10-08-2011


















































Bus From To Service Operator

40379 Finstock Avenue, Blurton Lightwood Road 23 First Potteries
40138 Lightwood Road Park Hall 26 First Potteries
61243 Park hall Hanley BS 26 First Potteries
4650 hanley BS Stafford Street, Hanley 61 Wardle Transport
40373 Hanley BS Ladybank Grove, Blurton 23A First Potteries




Matthew was taken out today by two people from a local organisation that are employed to look after young adults for a small fee and allow to access things they like to do. Last week was the first time and we broke them in gently by getting them to take Matthew to a local beauty spot by car and then he had a long walk. Today we upped the stakes slightly by arranging for them to take Matthew to Park Hall on the bus! Planning consisted of me printing out a journey plan for each direction using both the west midlands traveline web site for the outward journey and the national traveline door to door website for the return. The journey were deliberately planned for Matthew to change buses in quiet streets well away from any bus stations to ensure maximum success for them in carrying out this task. with instructions in hand and bus fare and travel pass we waved then off and they set off on the long walk to the stop. The journey the WM traveline suggested was one that i would have never though of and it evolved using the half hourly #23 Blurton to Longton via Newstead service to the outskirts of Longton, before catching the #26 forward to Park Hall. They didn't have to wait long before unrequired 40379.


40379 on the #23 Longton Service (Matt)

As far as I am aware this bus was done as per instructions on to Lightwood Road crossed the road and waited.I think they must have missed a bus and had to wait around 30 minutes for the #26 which on this occasion was required 40138. meaning Matthew has now been on both ex chester AG allocated darts in less than two weeks.


40138 on a #26 Meir and the Hanley (Matt)

Matthew we got off at Park Hall around 11:50 and had a wander around for a short while. The weather deteriorated and so the workers decide to go off the plan and catch a bus into Hanley. They waited for the bus around 12:30 and we dropped onto required 61243.


61243 on a 26 Hanley service (Matt)

Once in Hanley Matthew took then up onto the balcony so he could keep and eye on all the comings and goings and also to get pictures. When they suggested to Matthew catching a bus to back to Blurton he wasn't having any of it! He spent 40 minutes up there and they eventually persuaded him down with a drink in the cafe. At this point we spotted Wardle Transport double decker 4650 on a #61 and told them he wanted to catch it. with some quick thinking, they decided to do it for 1 stop so he could get a ride on it. as he got off he got a picture.


4650 in Hanley on a #61 to Tunstall (Matt)

Walking back to the bus station, we saw 'new to the potteries' East Lancs bodied Dennis Dart 40779, and Matthew got a quick snap of it.


Newbie 40779 see on the #1/#2 circuit in Hanley (Matt)

Back at the bus station Matthew was persuaded to get on unrequired Dennis Dart 40373 on a #23A Blurton, which unfortunately he did not get a photograph of. Matthew was a little bit moody when he came home but I think the people looking after him generally did a good job and did some quick thinking. I think they certainly learned a few things today from Matthew :-) ...Mark

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