Petition demands new route for free bus

Apr 1 2010 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

Petition demands new route for free bus

A PETITION with more than 2,000 signatures has called for the re-routing of a free bus service down a neglected street.

UKIP’s Parliamentary candidate Allan Weddell organised a petition, originally signed by traders on Brook Street, asking that the service from the train station to the city centre.

On Tuesday, Brook Street Catholic club landlord John Kenyon and Stewart Tattershall, who helps run Dee Sports on the road joined Mr Weddell at County Hall to see the petition handed in.

Mr Weddell said: “We’re hoping with our 2,000 plus petition will be more successful.

“A third of the signatures are from people going into the shops. The others were from the street.

“It was gathered by a combination of UKIP members out on the streets and local shops.”

Mr Weddell has also written to the other parliamentary candidates in Chester requesting their support.

Mr Weddell has learned that the free bus service cost £146,570 in the last financial year, with Cheshire West and Chester Council stumping up a quarter of the sum – £35,120. The three major train operators pay the remainder.

“The council are intimating they are not opposed to re-routing the bus, it’s the train companies who are refusing to.

“The fact the council pay £35,120 is a stick they could use to hit the train companies with.”