Merseytravel to examine hospital bus service

FORMBY residents who have been cut off from a vital hospital bus route may soon be reconnected after work between Formby councillors, MP Bill Esterson and Merseytravel. In July, Arriva's 44 route was curtailed due to problems keeping to the timetable. The bus, which served Kirklake Road, St Luke's Church Road and Bushby's Lane before travelling into Southport via the Southport and Formby hospital, was rerouted down Kings Road in Formby, cutting off the west side of the town altogether. Dozens of residents contacted the Formby Action Team to say they were concerned as to how they would reach Southport hospital once the bus route was cut. Cllr Nina Killen, who has been leading the talks with Merseytravel and Arriva, met with representatives of the bus company and travel authority on to discuss residents’ concerns. She said: “Residents were rightly concerned about how they were going to travel to appointments now the bus route has been curtailed. ”It is a route that is subsidised by Merseytravel because it is not commercially viable but for the residents who use it it is absolutely vital. People use the bus because they have no other option. “Merseytravel agreed that there is a social need to connect the Bushbys Lane area of Formby with the hospital and are committed to looking at the circular bus routes to see how they can connect better with the 44. ”We would have preferred for the route to be reinstated but despite protracted talks with Arriva it was clear that unfortunately this is not going to happen. We asked Arriva to consider cutting a different part of the route or to change the time of the 44 so that it met with the circular bus in a more timely manner, but they were not able to do this for various reasons.“ Cllr Killen said Merseytravel had promised to look at how to improve the connection of the circular buses, which are currently run by Cumfybus. Cllr Killen said: ”Merseytravel have made a commitment that over the next six months there will be work done to see what impact it would have to change the times of the circular buses. What we don’t want is to solve one problem and cause another so this will have to be considered carefully. “We would have preferred for the 44 to be reinstated in full but it was clear that due to budget cuts Merseytravel were not able to put in the necessary subsidy to support this.” Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson added: “I share the concerns and disappointments of residents in Formby about the severe cuts being made by the government. Cllr Nina Killen has done an excellent job in trying to find an answer and I would also pay tribute to residents and to Merseytravel for trying to find a way forward in difficult circumstances. ”We should all be working together to try to make sure bus services are as good as possible.“

Story and Photo source: Champion - Holly Rummens