Transport bosses in the Liverpool City Region have expressed their 'extreme disappointment' at news that bus companies are preparing to cut back on routes and services.
Yesterday, the ECHO revealed that a notice sent to Liverpool City Councillors outlined a host of bus route cutbacks due to come in from September. The notice came f rom the bus development team at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
The notice stated that the reduction in routes and services will come into play at the time when Local Transport Funding from central government, which is supporting current service levels, comes to an end in a few months. It said: "Pressures facing the bus industry including much reduced patronage levels on some bus services and inflationary cost increases continue to be felt locally. Local Transport Funds from central government, which is supporting existing service levels is due to end in the autumn and as a consequence of this changes to services which affect Liverpool will be introduced on September 4."
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The letter goes on to list proposed service changes in different wards across Liverpool, with some areas set to be hit by minor frequency changes, others facing significant frequency changes and some areas looking at dealing with total bus route changes. Some areas are set to be impacted by all three levels of service cuts.
The areas set to be impacted by minor frequency changes to bus services included central ward, Kensington and Fairfield, Picton, Childwall, Knotty Ash, Everton, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft, County ward, Clubmoor, West Derby and Old Swan.
All these areas are also due to face significant frequency changes as well, along with Wavertree, Church ward, Dingle, Princes Park, Kirkdale, Fazakerley, Croxteth, Norris Green, Allerton and Hunts Cross, Greenbank, Swanside, Woolton and Belle Vale.
The city wards set to face the most disruption, with full bus route changes, include Central, Kirkdale, Everton, Anfield, County, Clubmoor, Norris Green, Croxteth and Fazakerley.
Reacting to the news of the proposed cuts, Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport and Air Quality lead at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “We are extremely disappointed that the bus companies are proposing a number of service reductions from September. This is a result of the ending of Government recovery funding exacerbated by a de-regulated model that leaves bus companies to take decisions on services without using profits from the busiest routes to cross subsidise the services that are still struggling after Covid. This is why we are determined to reform our bus network using devolved powers.
“We have insisted that the bus companies consult with local councillors and passengers before any final decisions are made, and this is the process that will start in the coming weeks.”
