Bus Stop proposals

High Street and Church Street Bus Stops/Shelters.

The Parish Council carried out a survey of bus users at the stop outside the Chemists on the High Street and at Hockenhull Lane on the mornings of 19th, 20th, and 22nd July. After 4.5 hours on the High Street, 13 questionnaires were completed and analysed and the results were discussed at the Council meeting.

The results showed that most people walked to the bus stops and a majority did not use the village shops before waiting for the bus. On their return, most people on both the 84 and the 82 alight at Hockenhull Lane. Bus shelters were deemed to be important to bus users and there was a large majority, 10 to 3, who favoured removal of the bus stops in the High Street.

However, the Council was conscious that the number of answers received was not statistically significant. A number of individual comments had been received that argued strongly for the retention of the High Street stops and questioned whether their removal would decrease congestion, which is the Parish Council's aim. Money for improvements is available in the 2013 Cheshire West and Chester Councils budget, and the Parish Council feels that it is important to get a renovation programme that gives the best value for the village and that benefits the greatest number of people.

After a lively discussion of many options it was agreed to recommend the following:-

• The bus stop on the North side of the High Street (opposite the Post Office), currently used by the 82 only, be removed
• The bus stop on the south side of the High Street (near the chemist) remain but the road markings be extended along the High Street to allow the bus to pull in parallel to the kerb and thus allow cars to pass more easily while it picks up and drops passengers.
• Bus shelters be provided for both sides of the road for the stops at the end of Hockenhull Lane, with the one on the south side being moved a little further west away from the junction.
• The existing bus shelter on Church Street be upgraded and a new one installed opposite in a style appropriate for a Conservation Area. The new one should be sited as far away from Duckers Well as is practical to reduce the possibility of casual damage to this culturally sensitive site.

The recommendations will now be presented to Cheshire West and Chester Council for comment and if appropriate further examination.