Councils come together to subsidise bus service

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 16^th March 2021

Tue 16^th Mar 2021

Cheshire East council has requested financial support from a group of local parish and town councils in order to subside the 130 bus service which currently run between Macclesfield, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth.

As a result of an experimental joint venture between D&G Bus and Cheshire East Council, the service will be extended next month. From April 11th the 130 buses will continue beyond Handforth to serve Manchester Airport, Wythenshawe and Wythenshawe Hospital.

Cllr Craig Browne (Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council) commented: "The 130 ceased to operate as a commercial service at the end of September 2020, since when it has been wholly subsidised by Cheshire East Council with the help of the government's Covid Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG). With the CBSSG due to be withdrawn at the end of this month and Cheshire East Council unable to meet the full cost of subsidising the route, we have had to seek match funding.

"Over the past few weeks I have been having conversations with a number of local Town & Parish Councils and would like to thank them for responding positively. Collectively, Wilmslow Town Council, Handforth Parish Council, Nether Alderley Parish Council and of course Alderley Edge Parish Council have committed to match fund the cost of the bus service for an initial trial period of one year."

Cllr Craig Browne added "Over the course of the next twelve months, we are seeking to work with D&G to develop a Quality Bus Partnership which we hope in the longer term will result in an enhanced service for our residents.

"Our early discussions with the operator have already resulted in the service being routed into Alderley Park (a key employment site and currently a mass vaccination centre for the borough) as well as being extended to Wythenshawe Interchange (linking up with the GM Metrolink system) and on to Wythenshawe Hospital.

"As the Portfolio Holder for Public Transport, it is my hope that this funding model can be replicated in other parts of the borough, with Town & Parish Councils working in partnership with Cheshire East Council to deliver enhanced services for our residents."

A total of £40,000 is being provided by Cheshire East Council and this is being matched collectively by Wilmslow Town Council, Macclesfield Town Council, Handforth Parish Council, Alderley Edge Parish Council and Nether Alderley Parish Council.

Members of Handforth Parish Council agreed unanimously to provide a £10,000.00 subsidy for the 130 Bus service. Wilmslow Town Council agreed to make a £20K subsidy from April 2021 for a period of one year.

Wilmslow Town Council refused to provide the requested funding of £20,000 for the twelve month period from April 2021, instead they agreed to provide funding of £15,000, subject to Macclesfield Town Council funding the remaining £5,000.

Additionally, members of Nether Alderley Parish Council have approved a subsidy of £2,000 for the 130 bus service from 1st April 2021 for 12 months.

At the time of publication we are awaiting confirmation of the subsidy provided by Alderley Edge Parish Council.

Tags:: 130 Bus Service

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Pete Taylor

Tuesday 16^th March 2021 at 4:11 pm

Any information about recent passenger numbers? The 130 passes the back of my house and seems to be perpetually almost empty. Also, it would be interesting to know how many of the few passengers pay for their travel.

Mark Russell

Tuesday 16^th March 2021 at 7:27 pm

What an utter waste of money. The fact it failed as a viable bus service tells us exactly how many people used this service. More wasted tax payers money.

This is a nice to have, and unfortunately after covid the nice to haves need to vanish to pay for the need to haves, like maybe roads we can drive on??

This stinks of electioneering, is there an election soon??

David Hoyle

Tuesday 16^th March 2021 at 7:50 pm

What hours will this service be running. I see this bus during the day and it has few passengers on it. Why go to the airport or hospital. If it went to Wythenshawe interchange only,passengers can change as there are numerous other buses going to the hospital or the airport. I cannot see many people going to the airport using this service.

Kam Sharifi

Tuesday 16^th March 2021 at 9:46 pm

Fantastic news! Roll on the second era of the 130

Andrew Backhouse

Wednesday 17^th March 2021 at 3:23 pm

I know very few people are using this at the moment - the government has said don't use trains or buses unless absolutely necessary - and not yet rescinded that statement. Then the service has been less regular too. As we have got to get people out of cars and on to buses, trains, bikes, or their own 2 feet because of pollution and effect on climate change, we have got to have councils taking brave steps to help us. As I watch elderly people without cars getting on the bus in Colshaw, I have to acknowledge that I have been very lucky - and am very pleased that the councils have worked together to subsidise something which we will need in the future. All those in Wilmslow and Handforth who are thinking about their grandchildren need to start using the bus!

Vince Chadwick

Wednesday 17^th March 2021 at 5:54 pm

The buses are running near-empty because we are in lockdown and few people are going anywhere. I have not been on a train or bus for about a year as most places I go to are shut; normally I'd use both at least twice a week despite having 2 each of cars, motorcycles, and bicycles at my disposal.

If I need to go into Wilmslow or to the railway station for a train I might normally cycle if the weather is good, or take the bus if it isn't. No need to worry about parking if I do that.

Buses are not just the preserve of those without a car; they make a great deal of sense for some journeys even for those of us who have a choice of how we travel.