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Update on 84 Bus Crewe – Chester Service

17th March 2023 @ 6:06am – by Tarvin Webteam
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arriva bus cheshire west and chester bus

Following on from our article on 4th March about Arriva's decision to start its staff consultation for the proposal to close its bus depots in Winsford and Macclesfield we are publishing a letter on the subject from Edward Timpson CBE KC MP, Member of Parliament for Eddisbury. There is good news in paragraphs 6,7 & 8.

"I would like to assure you that I am aware of the impact this announcement has had and the concerns that it has raised

Last week, I, along with other Members of Parliament, met with Minister for Buses, Richard Holden MP, to address constituents' concerns following Arriva's decision to notify employees of a proposal to close its bus depots in Winsford and Macclesfield. I also met with Richard Hoare, Commercial Director of Arriva North, to seek clarification on a number of issues that were raised.

I have also had the opportunity to table a question to the Minister for Buses on this matter. In responding, he 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.

Whilst local authorities Cheshire West & Chester and Cheshire East have said they will not step in to run these services, the private sector has come to the aid of the affected Arriva routes, with local company D&G and Stagecoach declaring their intentions to take on a number. These include the 31, 37 and 84.

Stagecoach currently operates 15 routes in the Chester area network, including Liverpool and Ellesmere Port, and will now add Nantwich and Crewe to that list.

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.

I am pleased that a combination of private sector offers and political intervention has resulted in a positive outlook for the affected routes, and of course local authorities must do their duty in ensuring this is carried through.

I will, of course, continue to monitor this situation closely going forward."

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