Fiona Bruce MP and fellow Cheshire Conservative MPs held a meeting with Arriva to address constituents' concerns following Arriva's decision to notify employees of a proposal to close its bus depots in Winsford and Macclesfield, and therefore the associated bus routes.
Speaking after this meeting, Fiona Bruce said “Many constituents have been in touch with me about proposed changes to local bus services and I very much understand how concerning this is for residents dependent on buses and what a lifeline bus routes can be for many people, this is why I took such immediate action meeting with Arriva. The Arriva representatives explained that this is currently a matter of consultation and so I would urge you all to make your own representations to Arriva via their customer service channels details of which can be found at https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/contact-us. I am pressing for another company to step in to maintain any affected services and will continue to actively support residents in this.”
Nationally, there has been a 20 per cent drop in bus usage since the Covid-19 pandemic, but on Arriva Cheshire routes this has been as high as 45 per cent.
Whilst local authorities Cheshire West & Chester and Cheshire East have said they will not step in to run these services, local companies D&G and Stagecoach have declared an intention to look into taking on some of these routes.
It is understood that D&G is recruiting both drivers and engineers to resource its new services, and in addition to its Crewe depot and headquarters in Stoke- on-Trent, has a smaller premises near Northwich. Its existing business includes a combination of contract wins and commercial services from other operators, and it already covers many areas served by Arriva from their depots.
In an answer to a Parliamentary question from Edward Timpson on Monday, the Minister for Buses disclosed that, since 2013, Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester Councils have received an annual payment of £347,865 and £314,318 respectively through the Bus Service Operators Grant.
Cheshire East Council also received £2.2 million since March 2020 to support services through the pandemic, of which they were paid £1,284,863 via Covid-19 Bus Service Support Grant, £534,874 via Bus Recovery Grant, and £382,682 from the Local Transport Fund.
Cheshire West and Chester Council were paid almost £1.5 million since March 2020 to support services through the pandemic, of which they were paid £721,690 via Covid-19 Bus Service Support Grant, £433,300 via Bus Recovery Grant and £339,672 from the Local Transport Fund.