Councillors in a market town braved cold and sleet but had a warm welcome from disenchanted bus and rail passengers.
And the feedback they received was clear – people want more buses and trains for Neston with fair fares.
“It’s like living in the outback” said one person interviewed.
Four Neston town councillors, Pat Kynaston, Ceri Lloyd, James Wilkie and Phil Lloyd, braved the winter weather to meet the public at Neston market.
They met with a rousing reception from the public and traders, many of whom signed the petition from Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders who supports the town council’s claim for a half-hourly rail service and through trains to Liverpool.
High costs problem raised
Other issues raised with the councillors were the high cost of fares on buses and trains, the lack of good connections with Hooton Station and good links to Arrowe Park and Chester, the lack of information on the services available in Neston and changes and poor reliability especially in the last few months on the trains.
On a positive note there was great satisfaction with the 487 bus service to and from Liverpool.
The councillors collected over 150 signatures to add to the many who have already signed the petition, available on the MP’s website, which can also be signed on the noticeboard in Sainsbury’s and in Boots in Neston town centre. Other locations are also being asked to give prominence to the document.
Right to give issue a high profile
Cllr Lloyd, lead councillor for public transport, said: “Neston Town Council was pleased to secure Justin Madders’ support for our campaign and we are taking that campaign out to the public as we did at Neston Market. We are asking people what are their priorities in transport and their answers to the questions we asked them suggest that the town council is right to give this issue a high profile.
“We will publish a summary of those views at the end of our consultation on public transport for Neston after that ends on February 29. Meanwhile, we urge people to continue to let us have their views on our priorities for public transport.”
