Supported Bus Service Review,
Research and Consultation,
Cheshire East Council,
Westfields,Middlewich Road,
Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1HZ.
Tuesday,June 27th, 2017
Dear Sir or Madam,
Consultation on Supported Bus Services
The North West Transport Roundtable (NW TAR), which operates under the auspices of the Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT), promotes sustainable transport and land use and healthier lives. We espouse ‘Smart Growth’ and reducing the need to travel.
Our Comments
NW TAR is seriously concerned by the proposed deep cuts to supported bus services by Cheshire East Council (CEC) which we would point out will impact the greatest on the most vulnerable in society. We note that the plan is to withdraw a total of 15 services, stop running weekday evening and weekend services on another 13 routes and change the route of a further 16 including (1) terminating the 392 service from Macclesfield at Hazel Grove park ride site instead of Stockport and (2) terminating services 72 and 73 from Nantwich at Wrenbury and Audlem respectively instead of Whitchurch. Cross border services to major centres are particularly important for accessing jobs but the economics of the wider population do not appear to feature. Nor does the need to offer public transport to important tourist destinations like Little Moreton Hall and Mow Cop.
It is not relevant for CEC to point to its Little Bus/ Dial-a-Ride service. The budget for this is also being slashed and the number of available vehicles cut in half. But, in any event, ‘Little Bus’ exists for a defined sector of society; its availability is not about to extended.
The fact of the matter is that the level of proposed cuts is draconian and includes the withdrawal of support for a number of ‘lifeline’ services. If implemented, there would be social consequences and, of course, such an action does nothing to help achieve modal shift. We would also point out that people who use public transport walk more than those who use cars. Therefore there is an inter-related health aspect to encouraging people to use cars less. A healthier population means less costs on the health service.
Reducing bus services each time there is a review merely leads to a self-perpetuating downward spiral. We oppose these proposals. CEC should be looking to provide more bus services that inter-connect better with train services and should be promoting them, not slashing services and making people’s lives poorer. Incidentally, we note that these suggested cuts co-incide with bus operator D & G de-regulating its 78 route east of Coppenhall, a move which will remove some listed alternatives (for routes 32 & 315).
Yours sincerely,
LILLIAN BURNS, Convenor, NW TARE: Tel: 01625 829492
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