Passengers protest at changes to bus route

Apr 4 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

COMPLAINTS are gathering regarding a replacement bus service which is less frequent and has left some people stranded part way along the route without shelter.

A three-year Government grant covering the 41 route between Chester and Whitchurch has come to an end leaving the county council to pick up the tab. This has led to a reduced day-time, evening and Sunday service.

The 41 service (41, 41A and X41) runs hourly each way on the A41 between Chester and Broxton all day, but only every two hours off-peak on the stretch linking Whitchurch with people now expected to change at Broxton.

Malpas Bus Users’ Representative Nevil Eaton claims the idea of breaking the journey at Broxton is just not working.

People are being forced to wait there without shelter from the wind and rain. And on the first day of the operation one bus ran out of fuel at Broxton leaving passengers stranded.

He added: “My fears about the changes to the route, diverting the buses via Sandy Lane have been even worse than I expected.

“The time the buses take to get out of Sandy Lane is a lot longer than given on the timetable, and as a result the buses are getting behind their schedules. In order to catch up the buses are not keeping to their routes and are missing out some of the little villages.”

Bus user Paul Bevan has also contacted Cheshire county councillor Peter Byrne about the diversion down Sandy Lane which he says has added between five and 10 minutes to what was “already a long journey time”.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rollins from Whitchurch has launched a petition to reinstate bus services between Whitchurch and Chester which have been stopped on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Buses only run between Chester and Malpas.

He too complained about a lack of shelter for passengers who had to change at Broxton and said there was a danger that people could be stranded if they missed a connection.

He plans to send copies of his petition to North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, and Cheshire and Shropshire County Councils. “They said if I get over so many signatures, they will look at the timetable again,” he said.

l Nevil Eaton wants people to contact him if they have problems. He can be contacted at 22 Craddock Court , Malpas, Cheshire, Tel. 07949 078843 or e-mail nevileaton@yahoo.com.