Bus passengers ‘paying price for transport spending cuts’

PASSENGERS in Macclesfield are paying the price for spending cuts in public transport, it has been claimed.

Councillor Nick Mannion, Labour member for Macclesfield West and Ivy, spoke out following a Cheshire East Council environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee.

The council says cuts to the area’s bus network had delivered value for money since April last year and that the cost to the tax payer has fallen 30 per cent.

But Coun Mannion says this has come at a cost to residents.

He said: “The budget was cut by 40 per cent and officers have made the best of a bad situation.

“But in Macclesfield, for example, there are no buses on a Sunday, a bank holiday or in the evening.

“If you work shifts public transport is not an option, you have to walk or get more expensive transport.

“If you can’t afford a car your employment opportunities are restricted and your mobility is restricted, that is my concern.

“For those that rely on buses they are now more isolated, their employment opportunities are restricted and they are having to use more expensive forms of public transport just to get to work.”

In the draft budget for 2019-20, the council is considering cutting the community transport budget by £175,000 in 2019-20 and a further £25,000 in 2020-21.

That includes the cost of operating the ‘Little Bus’ dial-a-ride service, as well as staff and overhead efficiencies from the council’s arms-length company Transport Service Solutions.

Coun Mannion said: “The Little Bus provides transport options for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“It is an important piece of the public transport provision in Cheshire East and if at all possible we should retain it.”

A council spokesman said: “Overall, the network is performing well, with more than