SHOP workers are being left stranded in Warrington town centre since Sunday evening bus services were axed, a councillor told the borough council.
Coun Peter Carey (pictured) called for a review of the start and finish times for bus services to cater for people who work in the town centre on Sundays.
Two months ago, he asked council leader Ian Marks to consider keeping Sunday services going until 6.30pm to 
enable shop workers to travel homes by bus.
He now assumed, in the absence of a reply, that the council was not prepared to consider this.
“I would ask what advice you have for the workers affected who are faced with the prospect, after a full day’s work, of a long walk home on cold, wet, winter evenings?”
Coun Carey said he accepted there were technical difficulties but he believed there should be a review of start and finish times of Sunday services.
He was also disappointed there had not been wider consultation with bus users.
Even an extra half-hour would be appreciated.
“There are many workers who cannot just leave when the business closes – people who have to perhaps clean up or tidy before they go.”
Coun Marks said unfortunately the council had been forced to withdraw financial support from many Sunday evening bus services.
The decision was taken in March as part of the budget setting process, following public consultation last December and January.
All parts of the council had to identify budget savings to take effect over the next three financial years.
Warrington Borough Transport (WBT) had worked hard to redesign the network to deliver the best coverage it could during shopping hours on a Sunday.
But unfortunately, this mean people whose jobs require to finish after 5pm on a Sunday did not have a bus service for their journey home.
For bus services to be financially viable they had to be designed around a single shift operation providing an eight hour day from approximately 9.30am to 5.30pm – the hours of greatest passenger demand as they corresponded with shopping hours.
The only alternative would be run buses from 10.30am to 6.30pm – but this would affect people making their way to work.
Coun Marks said: “With regard to those workers who now do not have a service available I am afraid that I can advise that currently there is no immediate prospect of any adjustments being made to the current timetable.
“Some people may be able to secure lifts home from colleagues or agree an adjusted working pattern with their employer.
“We would of course rather not be in this position but this council, like so many up and down the country, has to make savings.
“We are not in a position to carry on funding all services to full capacity. We have to direct the resources we have to those services which have the most impact on the largest number of people.
“This thinking guides our decision making and in terms of bus services the most effective way to do this is to reduce the subsidy we pay to those services that are not commercially viable.
“The situation with regard to the operation of bus services on a Sunday will be kept under constant review and officers will continue to work closely with Warrington Borough Transport to identify any possible enhancements to Sunday services which may be possible in the future.
Shop workers stranded in town centre
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
10 Comments
That’s a nonsense.
They could work split shifts like they have done in the past, and work 5 hour shifts on Sunday instead of one 8 hour shift.
The alarm bells start ringing when they say they have “consulted” with the public.
why not other operators step in? Or is WBT part of a monopoly situation?
Taxis, lifts, family members, exercise, it isn’t life threatening. Cuts happen, live with it.
Taxis… very expensive. Family members…. more cars on the roads and an inconvenience at times… excercise, ok but not all areas are nice to walk to when you are on your own. You are right though, at least it’s not really life threatening. For workers then there are car share options etc too I guess BUT I would like to ask Cll MARKS (if he is reading) …… “in the current economic climate with so many willing to take any job vacancy do you[cllr marks] really expects employers to keep on a sunday working employee (I presume most Sunday workers are in retail or similar and many of them are possibly youngsters) ….and agree to an adjusted working patterns simply because that person cant get home and cannot drive or maybe afford a car ?? ” Silly statement of you ask me ! Warringtons bus system as it is certainly doesn’t encourage people to use public transport does it….. shame really 🙁
The shops are open on Sundays first and foremost to make more money so in return shouldn’t they take their share of responsibility for the welfare of their staff?
Typical that Ian Marks can only think in economic terms. What about older people who no longer drive, those too young to drive, or those who cannot afford cars/taxi’s and rely on evening/weekend bus services to visit family or friends? Maybe instead of directing resources to further their ‘grandoise aspirations’ for the town they could use what resources are available to retain essential services such as public transport and public toilets etc.
disgraceful remark have some compassion for these peoples problems , these people who are stranded are no doubt on the min wage !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just waiting for someone to be asaaulted on a dark winter evening- the Council should be ashamed of this situation- cutback on some services in the week to pay for a Sunday service if you have to
If this was a profitable service then it wouldn’t be in question, its a balance of service obligations subsidising from the more profitable services. nNw if this was a private company then I should expect they would close it, since its WBT as a subsidiary of WBC it should be ran as a SERVICE OVER PROFIT scheme.
Minimum wage I doubt – most people who work on a Sunday only do it because it’s double time