This is the only bus that gets me to work on time
FEARS OVER FUTURE OF BUS SERVICES AFTER OVERHAUL
“THIS is the only bus that gets me to work on time,” says Caitlyn Lamb, as she waits for the number 11 service from Cheadle to her utility firm job in Edgeley.
The 26-year-old sets off each morning from Woodford, near Stockport’s border with Cheshire, getting the 42B bus to Cheadle, then hopping on the number 11 to arrive at work on the other side of the borough in good time.
But the future of these services – and dozens of others across Greater Manchester appears to be uncertain.
Operators – including Stagecoach, First and Arriva – intend to cut 33 ‘non-viable’ services altogether from October 30, as the government’s Covid recovery funding comes to an end. A further 32 would either run less often or have shortened routes.
A £15m plan to save the routes and maintain service levels as best as possible has been hatched by transport bosses – but it hinges on finding new operators to run axed services and agreeing subsidies to keep others running as often as they do now.
Councillor David Meller, of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee, has warned there would be ‘devastating’ impact on the network should it fail. And Caitlyn – who sometimes uses another underthreat service, the 379, to get to Bramhall after work – is one of commuters who stand to bear the brunt.
But she points out it isn’t just adults travelling to and from work who would be affected. “The 11 is a great bus because it goes to the Academy where I used to go [to school] In Edgeley – it’s a main route for teenagers to get to school if they’re coming from Cheadle or Stockport,” she says.
Stockport could be one of the hardest hit boroughs should the rescue package fail, with nine services set to be axed all together such as the 379 and 11A - and a further five facing ‘frequency reductions,’ such as the 11 and 383 circular to Bredbury.
The 42B is listed for ‘part’ deregistration but, at the time of writing neither TfGM or Stagecoach had confirmed how this would affect the service. Other services that would be pulled entirely include the 313 that connects Stockport to Manchester Airport and the circular 328 service which serves areas of Cheadle, Adswood and Edgeley.
Back on Cheadle High Street, another early morning commuter who asks not to be named – is waiting for the 11A to get to her job in Gorton. “I work at Tan Yard Brow in Gorton, so I need that bus,” says the professional dog-groomer.
“I think it would be pretty awful, because it means you would not be able to get anywhere because there’s only the 11A now. It’s really bad at the moment, because the bus never turns up when it’s supposed to. But it would be awful because it’s the only bus we can get from here to Stockport or Edgeley.”
It’s also a big concern for commuter Pete Drury. Although the 52-year-old is a Cheadle resident, he’s currently looking after his parents in Brinnington – commuting to Cheadle and back every day for his cleaning job.
Losing the 11A or reductions to the 11 would be a real blow for him. “I would be knackered,” he says ruefully.
“I would probably have to walk because I can’t afford a taxi every day, it would cost me a fortune.”
And Pete thinks there are many more Stopfordians would find themselves in the same difficult situation. “You see the same old faces in the mornings, you get to know everyone,” he adds. “I think a lot of people would be in the same boat.”