Anger at change to bus services In Statham

Statham residents are angry about changes to bus services that came into effect on 3rd October. Buses no longer travel along Star Lane or Barsbank Lane and passengers must now use the bus stops on the A56.

I welcome some of the other changes being made which will benefit Lymm residents such as the replacement of the Cat 5A service by the X5 service which will reduce journey times to Altrincham. But the decision to stop buses through Statham is really unpopular and creates major problems particularly for the elderly and disabled. They are forced to walk under the Barsbank Aqueduct which can be dangerous and then up a steep hill to the top road. One of the stops they are directed to is described in the timetable as Statham Massey Brook Lane. This is not Statham!

We understand that the change to the route has taken place because too few people use the bus and when the bus company gets its fleet of electric buses they will not go under the aqueduct.

We have launched a petition which can be signed in Morrisons on Albany Road. This calls upon Warrington Borough Council and Warrington's Own Buses to bring forward an alternative proposal which safeguards the needs of Statham residents. It already has around 400 signatures and the number is climbing every day.

Local resident Bev Oxley says: I work at Morrisons, and some people have come in with tears because they cannot climb the hill to the top road. Something must be done to restore a service for Statham people.

Last week I arranged a meeting for fellow Lymm Councillor Graham Gowland and I, together with several Lymm bus enthusiasts, to meet with Council officers and a senior manager from the bus company. They listened to our concerns and agreed to look at what could be done. This may involve more use of a small bus that could travel through Statham. They also took seriously our concerns about the need to improve communication and signage and to speed up the production of revised timetables when changes are made.