COMPLAINTS over slashing Chester’s park and ride service have led to a U-turn by the new Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Shoppers and visitors were frustrated at having to wait for the bus after a 10-minute service throughout the week was reduced to every 15 minutes in the off peak period.

Passengers complained about waiting more than half an hour because the next available bus filled up within seconds.

Now the council has restored the 10 minute service to all sites except Sealand Road.

Council spokesman Mike McGivern said: “We looked in depth at people’s concerns about the changes to the service and decided to revert to the original timetable of every 10 minutes at three of the sites.”

Ken Poole, managing director of First’s Potteries business, which operates the service on behalf of the council, accepted there had been complaints. He said: “It was every 10 minutes, then it went to 15 and now it’s gone back to 10, but not at all the sites and not all day.”

“Fortunately we bought enough of the new buses to run the service,” he added.

First invested £1.7m in 14 new Volvo buses for the service, which operates from four sites at Boughton Heath, Wrexham Road, Sealand Road and Upton.

The 41-seaters feature easy access, buggy friendly low floors are described as ideal for the elderly and parents travelling with children.

They are equipped with the latest environmentally friendly, low emission engines.