A Greener Way to Explore

By linking two major transport points directly to the home of the Great Ship Burial, the Sutton Hoo Hopper reduces the need for car travel, easing congestion in Woodbridge and Melton, and will mean getting to Sutton Hoo is more accessible for those in wheelchairs and with mobility issues. It will also support local schools and groups to be able to get to Sutton Hoo.

The driving force behind the initiative, Ruth Leach, who is a town councillor for Woodbridge Town Council, East Suffolk Councillor and Suffolk County Councillor said “I am incredibly excited to see this pilot journey launched. Visitors will be able to alight at Sutton Hoo without struggling to cycle or walk up the busy hill and instead of a lengthy walk from the bus stop, people who are less mobile will now have transport right to the entrance. It will benefit our local town centre economy by attracting visitors arriving by train from further afield, who will be able to access this attraction easily as part of their visit to Woodbridge. It is going to make enjoyment of this area more accessible to all, and it will not only enhance the link between both sides of the river but it will also improve access to the countryside and surrounding walks.”

Coastal Accessible Transport manager Andrew Burgess said, ‘We are really excited to be partnering with all these great organisations to supply an easy and reliable alternative to car usage to get to Sutton Hoo’ 

Allison Girling, Property Operations Manager at National Trust Sutton Hoo, says: “We’re delighted to be supporting the new bus service from Woodbridge and Melton, which will make Sutton Hoo even more accessible and a further link to our local community. We hope it will make it much easier for people to access Sutton Hoo without the need for a car and perhaps encourage others who do have a car to use more sustainable methods of transport.”

Cllr Carol Gradwell, Chair of Melton Parish Council, said “We welcome this sustainable and accessible initiative involving CATS and all the partners. We are particularly pleased that Sutton Hoo visitors arriving by train at Melton, will be able to get a direct bus link to their visitor centre. Currently rail travellers must walk along the main road to Sutton Hoo or use the no. 70 bus service which drops passengers at the end of the national trust site’s drive.”

The initiative is formally supported by both Woodbridge Town Council and Melton Parish Council. Cllr Nigel Phipps, Mayor of Woodbridge said  “This marks another step into the foothills of a public transport network fit for our region. It is my hope that we will all relearn the joys of using public transport. As we do so – and despite some of its current inconvenience – we will eventually win the argument for better, more frequent and more reliable public transport. Thank you to those who have made this next step possible.”