SUNDAY bus services are to be cut at Warrington following the budget consultation earlier this year.
There will be reductions to some evening services – but most services during shopping hours will remain unchanged, according to the borough council.
The changes will start from Sunday, June 27, subject to confirmation from the Traffic Commissioner.
Andy Farrall, the council’s director for environment and regeneration, said: “We are in challenging times and any decisions about Sunday bus services have not been taken lightly and various options and alternatives have been considered. Minimising any impact on our residents always guides our thinking and decision making.
“By working in partnership with Warrington Borough Transport we have been able to keep any disruption to residents to a minimum and continue to provide bus services which will largely remain the same and operating during usual shopping hours.”
Coun Alan Litton, executive member for environment and transport, said: “It is very unfortunate, but the current financial situation means that we, like so many councils up and down the country, are facing tough decisions about how and which services we can continue to fund.
“We are in a position where we can’t resource everything and so we have to direct to make decisions based on providing those services that will have a positive impact on the highest number of people possible.
“However, I would like to reassure residents that we will leave no stone unturned and are looking at all viable alternatives to support the new services and we will continue to do this and monitor the impact on residents.”
Charlie Shannon, director of Warrington Borough Transport, said: “As a result of our close working relationship with the council, we have been able to retain Sunday bus services during shopping hours and hope this benefits local bus users.”
11 Comments
I have no doubt the taxi services in Warrington will be rubbing their hands and seeing lots of pound signs before their eyes!. Every dark cloud etc…
“Reductions to some evening services” = no buses after 6pm, not even on the major routes. Disgraceful cost-cutting by the council.
If you ain’t got it you can’t spend it!
There are no passengers on most Sunday night buses in my neck of the woods.
There are no passengers on most of the off peak buses across the whole of the town because the bloody prices are too expensive!!
Agree with Baz.
Bus prices are far to expensive, if they are trying to encourage people from cars, they have not a chance, you are better of walking, it’s cheaper, keeps you fit and you will get to work without delay,
Do you mean that there are people who actually pay to travel on a bus?
Am wondering how our elders and the disabled will be finding their way around from now on??
Well judging by the ASDA and IKEA car parks, most disabled people seem to drive Range Rovers and BMW X5’s so they don’t need buses anyway! I went on a bus the other week and it was over £2.50 to town and back from Westbrook!!! No wonder they are empty Kev.
As someone unable to drive due to health reasons and therefore dependent on buses, I’m dismayed by this plan! And, yes, I too have to pay fares – MUCH cheaper than taxis! I thought local and central Gov’t’s aim was to improve public transport and reduce the number of cars on the road? Will this be the first step toward reducing the service on other evenings?
it is in this day and age, disgusting to cut off whole swathes of large town, that has a population of 200.000 people Nowhere else in this country, could i imagine a council would even contemplate this kind of move… but lets remember, they’ve got to protect there’re handsome wages and golden pensions, while joe blogs gets poorer…..