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Cheshire Bus News (was East Cheshire Bus News)

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323235

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Not currently mentioned on here but Cheshire East have started passenger usage surveys on funded bus services presumibly in advance of next years funding cuts.
 
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pemma

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Not currently mentioned on here but Cheshire East have started passenger usage surveys on funded bus services presumibly in advance of next years funding cuts.

There was one on a 88 bus I travelled on the other week but the person doing it was recording responses on a tablet which had an interface in D&G Bus colours. She had a his-vis jacket with some branding on which I didn't recognise - not D&G, TSS or Cheshire East council. I heard her asking other people if they use the bus on Saturdays and Sundays (despite the route not running on Sundays) but she only asked me if I used it at the weekend.
 
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pemma

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There was also 2 on the 289 service yesterday.

If the 289 bus to Northwich was hourly I might use it. It has the disadvantage of being a longer journey time over the train but the railway station in Northwich is not centrally located.
 

pemma

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The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation in to closing Wilmslow Job Centre and for services to transfer to an expanded Macclesfield Job Centre. DWP has looked at the 130 bus and see it as an adequate option for getting between Wilmslow and Macclesfield. However, DWP has overlooked that Knutsford Job Centre closed many years ago with services transferred to Wilmslow Job Centre. I've heard a rumour that revenue on the subsided 88 service taken from job seekers can be over £1,000 a week and most of the usage between 10am and 3pm are job seekers and ENCTS pass holders. Whether the 27 service will get the revenue lost by the 88 service also is unclear as DWP say the maximum travelling time by public transport should be 35 minutes and 27 bus services take up to 50 minutes.

I bet Arriva will be pleased if the plans get approved - nice boost in off-peak usage on the 130 route between Wilmslow and Macclesfield for them!
 

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Streetlite ran the 10:15 300 D&G service today. A late running 10:45 service was operated by a MCV Evolution which has a faulty rear destination display. Unusual for a bus swap to happen on the 300 route mid-morning.
 

pemma

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Local councillors are to discuss the issue regarding closing Wilmslow Job Centre including the effect on local transport next Monday.

The Labour councillors on Cheshire East council have criticised the council's passenger surveys as they haven't been used to find out about existing habits and not how to get more patronage.
 

pemma

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At a council meeting on Monday it was suggested the 27 service needed enhancing but that other services, such as the 300 evening service, could see their funding cut next year.

Unfortunately, some councillors have the opinion that the only reason for bus subsides is because not enough people use the bus services. Nothing to do with the bus services not running at times when people would use them or trying to attract people to use public transport.

I remember when the 38 seater Wright Cadets were used on an hourly 27 service and they got almost full at peak times. Yet the service reduction and increased fares are part of the reason why passenger numbers on that route are so much lower now.
 

ag51ruk

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D&G had a poster on my bus this morning looking for drivers, mentioning a possible new depot in the Northwich area as they are considering expanding into Cheshire West

Just as a follow up to this one, D&G are advertising for drivers for their new depot at Wincham near Northwich
 

pemma

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Just as a follow up to this one, D&G are advertising for drivers for their new depot at Wincham near Northwich

Someone said the Northwich depot was subject to the outcome of Cheshire West tendering. Does this mean they've won some new contracts? I understand Cheshire West have a number of new contracts starting in April.

I'd be surprised if the 88 and 300 don't get operated from the new depot as Wincham is much closer to Knutsford, Wilmslow and Altrincham than Crewe.
 

323235

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It is certainly another blow for East Cheshire - Greater Manchester bus travel - I'm not sure what action Cheshire East Council are proposing, as there has been no information from them about it at this stage - I found out by reading the GMCA meeting papers.
 
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pemma

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The commercial 378 service is reportidly being withdrawn between Wilmslow and Grove Lane in April.

That service is usually a double decker and the number of passengers on it leaving Wilmslow is on a par with the subsided 200 service which is usually operated by a 29 seater Enviro 200.
 

pemma

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I'm not sure what action Cheshire East Council are proposing

The most likely option is they do nothing.

If they do award a contract they'll be complications as Arriva provide a commercially operated service between Wilmslow and Colshaw Farm and Stagecoach will continue to provide a commercial service between Grove Lane and Stockport.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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The most likely option is they do nothing.

If they do award a contract they'll be complications as Arriva provide a commercially operated service between Wilmslow and Colshaw Farm and Stagecoach will continue to provide a commercial service between Grove Lane and Stockport.

It is a fair distance from the Colshaw Farm estate to Grove Lane, that sees Handforth in-between those two areas, which will also now lose its direct bus service to Stockport. I know there is a rail service from Handforth to Stockport, but Handforth station is not really useful for those who live a very long way from that station, even allowing for the cost of the rail travel.
 

pemma

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It is a fair distance from the Colshaw Farm estate to Grove Lane, that sees Handforth in-between those two areas, which will also now lose its direct bus service to Stockport. I know there is a rail service from Handforth to Stockport, but Handforth station is not really useful for those who live a very long way from that station, even allowing for the cost of the rail travel.

There were some complaints from Holmes Chapel when it lost it's limited service to Knutsford (which was one return journey on Tuesdays and Fridays.) However, Cheshire East's response was there's a train between Holmes Chapel and Chelford and a bus between Chelford and Knutsford so there's no need for a bus between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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There were some complaints from Holmes Chapel when it lost it's limited service to Knutsford (which was one return journey on Tuesdays and Fridays.) However, Cheshire East's response was there's a train between Holmes Chapel and Chelford and a bus between Chelford and Knutsford so there's no need for a bus between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford.

Interesting as this is, it does not address my query that there will be no bus services from the Handforth border to Grove Lane. Are they not proposing to build a new large housing estate on the other side of the A34 by-pass in that same area?
 

Greybeard33

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Interesting as this is, it does not address my query that there will be no bus services from the Handforth border to Grove Lane. Are they not proposing to build a new large housing estate on the other side of the A34 by-pass in that same area?

The 312 Stockport to Handforth Dean, which is a TfGM tendered service, runs hourly from the Handforth border on Wilmslow Road along Stanley Road to Earl Road, thence through the Stanley Green Industrial Estate. It is only 400m from Earl Road across the bypass to Grove Lane.

Regarding the 378 curtailment, the TfGM report says officers are to monitor patronage data and keep the service under review.
 

rich.davies

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Do any bus services still serve Burwardsley nr tattenhall? Cant get any sense from Cheshire East and Traveline websites

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

pemma

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Do any bus services still serve Burwardsley nr tattenhall? Cant get any sense from Cheshire East and Traveline websites

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That's because it's in Cheshire West ;)

You want the 41 bus operated by Aintree Coachline.
 

pemma

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Interesting as this is, it does not address my query that there will be no bus services from the Handforth border to Grove Lane. Are they not proposing to build a new large housing estate on the other side of the A34 by-pass in that same area?

They'll probably use a S109 agreement with the developers to fund buses if required. That's how the 88 route got the extra services via Waters Corp.

The D&G Little Bus services go that way and I'm sure you and your wife would be eligible to use them if you required them. Fit and healthy under 60s would probably be expected to walk a bit further.
 
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diffywood

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They'll probably use a S109 agreement with the developers to fund buses if required. That's how the 88 route got the extra services via Waters Corp.

The D&G Little Bus services go that way and I'm sure you and your wife would be eligible to use them if you required them. Fit and healthy under 60s would probably be expected to walk a bit further.

sorry to nit-pick but dont you mean s106 agreement funding
 

323235

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The 312 Stockport to Handforth Dean, which is a TfGM tendered service, runs hourly from the Handforth border on Wilmslow Road along Stanley Road to Earl Road, thence through the Stanley Green Industrial Estate. It is only 400m from Earl Road across the bypass to Grove Lane.

Regarding the 378 curtailment, the TfGM report says officers are to monitor patronage data and keep the service under review.

It's not the TfGM part of the route that is affected though, so I don't see how that comment in the report has any impact (although they maybe interested in any GM - CE school traffic affected) - it would take discussion from Cheshire East to agree a funding allocation to retain the service.
 

Greybeard33

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It's not the TfGM part of the route that is affected though, so I don't see how that comment in the report has any impact (although they maybe interested in any GM - CE school traffic affected) - it would take discussion from Cheshire East to agree a funding allocation to retain the service.

The part of the 378 route along Stanley Road, between Grove Lane and Wilmslow Road, is within Greater Manchester, as is part of the peak-only route into the Stanley Green Industrial Estate. I imagine it is these parts that TfGM is concerned about, as well as the cross-boundary traffic to Handforth and Wilmslow. In proposing not to replace the withdrawn part of the 378 service, the TfGM report cited the 312 as an alternative, as well as the 130 and the Stockport - Cheadle Hulme - Handforth - Wilmslow rail service.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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The part of the 378 route along Stanley Road, between Grove Lane and Wilmslow Road, is within Greater Manchester, as is part of the peak-only route into the Stanley Green Industrial Estate. I imagine it is these parts that TfGM is concerned about, as well as the cross-boundary traffic to Handforth and Wilmslow. In proposing not to replace the withdrawn part of the 378 service, the TfGM report cited the 312 as an alternative, as well as the 130 and the Stockport - Cheadle Hulme - Handforth - Wilmslow rail service.

How easy is it for pedestrians to cross the large roundabout system on the A34, when making a walking journey from Grove Lane to the road leading into the Stanley Green Trading Estate?
 

siriain

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How easy is it for pedestrians to cross the large roundabout system on the A34, when making a walking journey from Grove Lane to the road leading into the Stanley Green Trading Estate?

According to Google Maps and Streetview, both arms of the A34 at the roundabout have traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings, so it should be relatively safe to walk that route.
 

Greybeard33

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According to Google Maps and Streetview, both arms of the A34 at the roundabout have traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings, so it should be relatively safe to walk that route.

Indeed. The 313 already terminates at Grove Lane, and I have walked from there to the Trading Estate with no problem at all.
 

pemma

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It is certainly another blow for East Cheshire - Greater Manchester bus travel - I'm not sure what action Cheshire East Council are proposing, as there has been no information from them about it at this stage - I found out by reading the GMCA meeting papers.

Now on Cheshire East website where they simply state a section of a commercial service is being withdrawn by Stagecoach, so as I thought they are not proposing to take any action.
 
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