HELP US SAVE FREE BUS
STOCKPORT council intends to withdraw the town centre no. 300 free bus (the Metroshuttle).
A report to its cabinet meeting on February 5 summarised the public consultation and 80 per cent of respondents either strongly disagreed or disagreed with the service being terminated.
Despite this level of public opposition, the cabinet decided that the cut will go ahead.
What is the point of consultation if its results are disregarded?
The service cost £1/4 million in the current year, but this is less than 1/18th of the council’s £4.5 million budget underspend in 2017-18.
Our town centre needs all the support it can get.
A 15-minute frequency free bus service linking supermarkets, the market, the Underbanks, the town hall, housing offices and the train and bus stations gives that support, at the same time as providing an excellent service for shoppers and visitors to the town centre.
The Metroshuttle bus is of great value to elderly and disabled passengers who cannot walk these distances carrying heavy bags.
It encourages use of public transport because of its facilitation of onward journeys.
It makes an important contribution towards reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and carbon footprint.
A single bus service is being re-routed to call at the train station once an hour.
A 15-minute service is replaced by an hourly one!
Wasn’t the bus station redevelopment originally billed as a ‘transport interchange’?
Couns Butler and Ganotis admitted at cabinet that agreement hasn’t been reached with bus operators to replace the market stop.
This could be a final nail in the coffin of the market!
Please support the campaign to save the Metroshuttle.
We will be petitioning in the town centre on Saturdays.
Please sign the petition and write to your councillor. John Pearson, Secretary, Stockport United Against Austerity Goyt Avenue, Marple »»See page 6.