Bid to save bus service launched

Anthony Rollins collects signatures for his petition in Whitchurch

A Shropshire man has launched a petition to re-instate bus services between Whitchurch and Chester.

Sunday and Bank Holiday services have been cut and Anthony Rollins from Whitchurch wants them to be restored.

He said weekday services were less frequent and some passengers had to change buses at Broxton near Malpas.

Cheshire County Council said only the least used services had been cut after a detailed usage survey had been carried out.

Government funding

A county council spokesman said the 41 and 41a bus services had been launched with government money which had now run out.

They said if I get over so many signatures, they will look at the timetable again Anthony Rollins

The council had written to Shropshire County Council to ask for a financial contributiion to their portion of the route but they refused, leaving Cheshire to fund it all.

"Major budget pressures have forced us to make some reduction," said the spokesman.

Mr Rollins said there was no shelter for passengers who had to change at Broxton and there was a danger that people could be stranded if they missed a connection.

He plans to send copies of his petition to North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, and Cheshire and Shropshire County Councils.

"They said if I get over so many signatures, they will look at the timetable again," he said.