A NEW trial shuttle bus service to Hooton train station is to be launched for residents living in Neston and the surrounding areas.
The four-week trial service has been developed in response to resident concerns about limited public transport to the station in the evenings, which is a key transport link to Chester and Liverpool.
Available every Thursday and Friday evening from November 25 to December 23, the service will be open to all, although children under the age of 13 must be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Users must pre-book their place on the evening minibus service, which will connect with the Chester trains at Hooton Railway Station and collect and return people from the Neston, Parkgate, Little Neston and Willaston areas.
Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for community and environment, said: “In the run-up to Christmas, with many more people taking advantage of late-night shopping and visiting family, this is certainly the best time to trial this new service.
“I hope many local people will take the opportunity to use the new shuttle bus and prove the viability of this service.”
The initiative, funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Rural West Area Team, will be operated by Ellesmere Port and Neston Community Transport.
The service costs £1 each way, and older people with bus passes and under-eights using it will travel for free.
Derek Gaskell of EPN Community Transport Ltd said: “With this being a booked service, we will pick up and drop off at bus stops as near to the address of the registered person as possible, but this will of course depend on the number of passengers for each journey. The route is based on part of the 272 service; plus Liverpool Road.”
For more details, or to book, call 0151 355 3739.
