Cheshire East commits to local bus services

Cheshire East Council has committed to ongoing support for local bus services to ensure the continuity and stability of the network across the borough.

Despite an increase in operator costs and the challenging financial position of the council, improvements have been made to the network to enable more regular and better-connected services providing access to jobs, education, healthcare and essential services.

An important link has now been added to the reintroduced 71/72/73 Nantwich rural services, which means that Nantwich, Wrenbury and Audlem will have a direct bus connection to Leighton Hospital.

In addition, the northern section of the 391/392 services will now change from running every two hours to being an hourly service between Poynton and Stockport. This improvement comes after passenger numbers on this service have doubled in the last year.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said:

“I am really pleased that we have been able to respond to passenger demand, especially around the Nantwich rural service. Leighton Hospital is a key community hub and linking that service to where there is a definite need, is an excellent news story for anyone living in those communities.”

Councillor Lata Anderson, Cheshire East Council’s public transport member champion, said:

“Simply sustaining our supported bus services in the current financial climate would have been a good achievement, so to be able to improve some services as well is a genuine success that needs to be celebrated.”

The new timetabled services will come into effect on Monday 31st March.