A popular bus service that serves thousands of people in one Wirral town has been saved from plans to heavily cut the service.
The 492/495 line, or the Birkenhead and Nocturum Circular, was one service included in plans put forward by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) that would see a shakeup of bus services throughout Merseyside to deal with funding cuts. The proposed changes would see waiting times for buses increase by a third, from an every 30 minute service, to one bus every 40 minutes.
Now the LCRCA has announced the service, which they considered "vital," will retain its usual timetable after stepping in to provide funding for them. The decision came after pressure from various stakeholders, including the consulted public and Wirral Labour councillors.
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An outrage followed the initial announcement of plans to cut the services throughout the region. One person who lives in Nocturum said the inclusion of their local bus route in the cuts list was a sign that their estate had been "forgotten."
They said: "Other local estates [get things like] playgrounds for their children. We on the Noctorum estate seem to get forgotten. Why?"
Labour Cllr Steve Foulkes, who represents the Claughton Ward that includes the Nocturum estate, said: “Private bus companies can pretty well do as they please and any loss of service is a retrograde step.
“However the people of the Noctorum area and beyond will be relieved their vital service has been protected. We are grateful for the Combined Authority helping with funding to keep this important transport link. I for one look forward to a London Style Transport system where not just profit but need for transport is the prime consideration.”
Wirral Council leader and Labour Cllr Janette Williamson said: “Public transport is a vital lifeline for our communities. Keeping services frequent means that they are more likely to be used, reducing the number of car journeys, helping the environment and making buses a better option for our residents.
“As we look ahead to taking the buses back, with a new improved system, I am looking forward to seeing routes, timetables and fares which suit users and get more people travelling on public transport.”
You can find the full list of bus services that will be retained due to the LCRCA's new funding here.
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