Give your views on bus services in Sefton tomorrow at Formby Library

At the insistence of Cllrs Denise Dutton, Simon Jamieson and Michael Pitt, Merseytravel have arranged to put on an additional consultation event in relation to the Sefton Bus Network Review.

It will take place at Formby Library TOMORROW - Tuesday 11th October between 10:30am and 2:30pm. Please come along and have your say. Cllr Denise Dutton said: "Maybe now is the time to discuss the reinstatement of the Kirklake Rd/Bushbys Lane loop to the 44 bus route!"

Residents have the chance to give their views on bus services in Sefton as part of an on-going review of the whole Liverpool City Region bus network. Working as part of the Bus Alliance, a formal partnership with operators Arriva and Stagecoach, Merseytravel is looking to create a simpler, clearer, and where possible, more direct network that can help encourage more people to take the bus.

Historically bus routes have been considered on a piecemeal basis and the idea is to consider the commercial network and the supported network – that which relies on public subsidy via Merseytravel – as a whole for the first time, to ensure it best reflects current working and living patterns and new developments and how they are served.

Part of the review has been looking at the current supported bus network and considering how increasingly limited public resources can be focused where there is most need.

A spokesperson said: "As part of this review, we are looking for people to tell us how they use the bus network in the area, particularly any supported bus service."

"A series of drop-in events are being held, starting next week, where members of the public will have the opportunity to speak to representatives from Merseytravel about bus services across the area. Previous events in Kirkby and St Helens provided useful feedback which helped to inform the changes to the bus network."

The six drop-in events have now all taken place as advertised in our newspaper across the Sefton borough and in Liverpool and now Formby has been added to the list:

Monday 26 September, 10am – 3pm – Maghull Central Square Tuesday 27 September, 10am – 3pm – Crosby Village Thursday 29 September, 10am – 3pm – Marian Square, Netherton Friday 30 September, 10am – 3pm – Chapel Street, Southport Monday 3 October, 9am – 5pm – Bootle Strand Wednesday 5 October, 9am – 5pm - Williamson Square, Liverpool

Tuesday 11th October, 10am to 2:30pm - Formby Library.

There will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on bus services in Sefton via an online survey on the bus review pages on the Merseytravel website at: www.merseytravel.gov.uk/busreview

With help from the feedback received from these events and via the Merseytravel website, proposed changes to the network will be drafted and an additional drop-in event and online consultation scheduled to give the public an opportunity to comment on them, details of which will be published on the Merseytravel website.

As in other areas where we’ve already undertaken these reviews, it is anticipated that we will work with the operators to extend or re-route some commercial services (i.e. those without public subsidy) to cover areas previously served by publicly supported services.

To make the network easier to understand we are also planning for services on the same routes to operate under the same number whatever the time of day where possible.

We will be working with all operators, to ensure that passengers will have alternative provision available within their area if a service is removed or changed. Any changes will come into effect in January 2017.

Key work areas will include: A review of the City Region bus network; Investment in new and greener vehicles; On board Wi-Fi and at-seat USB charging points on all new vehicles; Improved bus links to and from John Lennon Airport; Streamlined service changes at set times of year; Simpler ticketing and a review of zonal structures and pricing; Review of all customer information including more Real Time Information; Better integration of bus and rail services; Improved Customer Service training for all bus drivers.