Worry after bus company changes services
RESIDENTS of a Staffordshire Moorlands village have raised concerns after bus operator First Potteries has announced changes to its timetables – just weeks after altering a number of routes, writes JON BAMBER.
But the transport giant says the latest come in an effort to improve the reliability of its services.
In September, 11 key services, underwent changes, following alterations in June affecting the city centre to areas including Abbey Hulton, Endon, Trentham, Newstead, Keele and Stafford.
Now First has revealed more ‘minor adjustments.’
Passengers travelling between Hanley and Audley, Biddulph, Endon and Newcastle will be affected.
Other changes will impact on Newcastle and Bradeley.
Dan Flanagan, operations manager at First Potteries, said: “We have made some minor adjustments to some journeys on services across the network to improve reliability at busy times of the day.
“Service 100 has been operating between Bradeley Village and Festival Park for a while now and, through discussions with the local community in Bradeley and a regular driver on the service, suggestions were made to extend the route, under trial, to serve Baskeyfield House in Middleport and Hanley taking in Festival Park and Burslem on route.
“We hope the improvement in the service will prove successful and after time we will be able to make the change permanent.”
But users of the 8A service – which runs between Hanley and Norton, Brown Edge and Endon – fear it could be taken off in the New Year.
Pensioner Rose Adams, aged 68, of Brown Edge, said: “I have heard they are taking the bus off altogether from January 1.
“We only get one bus an hour which we manage with as we have to, but we are worried about them taking off the service.”
Beryl Karbowski, aged 61, of Brown Edge, said: “I catch the bus at 6.10am. It didn’t come twice the other week and I had to wait another hour.
“I have been told they are stopping the service on January 1. I would have to walk down to Endon or up to Norton.
“They change the times every so often – at least twice a year.
“The bus comes at different times every hour and it can be quite confusing.
“It is only because we use the service that we know about it. We feel that if they are short of drivers, they cancel our bus.”
Margaret Bourne, aged 68, of Brown Edge, said: “I have used the 8A for 40odd years. I hope we do not lose the service.”
Student Evie Allen, aged 18, of Norton, added: “The 8A used to come every 20 minutes. Now it is every hour and it is always late.”