Plans must be in place to provide adequate bus services to keep towns and villages connected in a post-Covid world, Esther McVey has told Government’s top transport minister.
The Tatton MP said everyone involved in delivering transport, from Government with funding to councils and bus operators must work together to ensure a strategy is in place to balance need and safety.
She met with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on a Zoom call to discuss the issue.
Ms McVey said: “The number of people allowed on buses has drastically fallen but as we emerge back a new way of life more people will be returning to offices, people will travel to hospital for appointments as face to face services for routine outpatients return and people will be spending more time with friends and family, so we need a service that reflects that.
“We need to look forward and think about service levels and frequencies. Timetables changed during Covid but they need to be constantly kept under review to deal with demand and ensure the right services continue to serve our local communities and keep them connected. I made it clear to Grant Shapps the need for good services in the area going forward and that we cannot see any more services lost.”
Last week Ms McVey met Cheshire East Councillor Kate Parkinson (High Legh) along with representatives from Cheshire East and Warrington Borough Council discuss the lack of service between Little Bollington, Agden and High Legh.
It follows Ms McVey’s constant communication with Cheshire East about the 130 service through Wilmslow and Handforth to ensure the community get a useable service that travels regularly from Macclesfield to connect with a bus service into Manchester.
