Anger after bus service used by key staff is axed
ANGER as been caused after a bus service used by NHS staff and other key workers has been suspended.
The 391/392 service travelled between Macclesfield and Stockport - via Poynton, Tytherington, Bollington and Pott Shrigley.
But it was stopped from Monday, April 20, and councillors including Poynton’s Nicky Wylie say Cheshire East Council made this decision without warning or consultation.
The service was provided by Manchester Community Transport, which is now defunct.
But Councillor Wylie says she and other colleagues had been given assurances by Cheshire East there was no problem with it continuing.
She said: “We are very upset and unbelievably disappointed in the suspension of the 391/392 bus service.
“We had met with the council’s officers, prior to lockdown, to discuss the running of this service and were reassured that it was going out to tender and no problems were foreseen.
“Councillors are fully aware of the current Covid-19 situation and the impact that this has caused. However the removal of this service by Cheshire East with no consultation or warning has left the residents of Poynton, Adlington and Pott Shrigley without any bus service.
“Key workers are unable to get to work and residents who had been able to maintain their independence now have to rely on others.”
Although Coun Wylie concedes passenger numbers will have fallen, she says this will be the case for all bus services yet no others in Cheshire East have been suspended.
Manchester Community Transport announced in February it was to cease all of its services because of ‘operating conditions’.
Phil Stockley, the organisation’s interim managing director, said: “It’s a really sad day for all of us. We have done all we can, but the situation does not appear to be recoverable.”
Councillor Craig Browne, cabinet member for public transport, said the council had been seeking tenders for a new operator to step in prior to April 20 but this was impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. He said: “Our transport services company, Transport Service Solutions (TSS), has already stepped in to provide transport for key workers and, as of Monday evening, three key workers are being driven to and from work, after requesting assistance.
“The decision by Manchester Community Transport has been widely publicised by the company and the intended withdrawal of these services has been posted on the council’s website.
“The council is committed to seeking a replacement operator just as soon as the current ‘lockdown’ is lifted and bus services return to normal.
“We acknowledge that this could have a serious impact on key workers who live in the Poynton area.
“The TSS team will do all it can to provide alternative transport for key workers so that anyone, who previously used the service and is having trouble travelling to work, can seek the company’s assistance.”
Key workers affected by the loss of the service that need help from TSS can email transportpolicy@ transportservicesolutions. co.uk.