New direct bus service from Nantwich to Leighton Hospital arriving in 2025
Plans to introduce a direct bus service from Nantwich to Leighton Hospital have been approved for 2025, much to the delight of Connor Naismith MP.
Cheshire East Council's Highways and Transport Committee voted unanimously to approve the recommendations from its 2024 Bus Service Improvement Plan, to be implemented from April next year.
The council's improvement plan aims to increase the number of bus journeys taken by bus from 2024 to 2035 by providing attractive, reliable and convenient connections, helping residents to travel by public transport and thus make fewer car journeys.
Cheshire East will begin the process of procuring new contracts from private bus companies in October, with current contracts expiring in March 2025.
Some bus routes will be run on an entirely commercial basis, but for other routes Cheshire East will provide a subsidy to ensure that bus links are available where they are needed to support residents, visitors and businesses.
The improvements approved will be over and above the current bus services, which will remain largely unchanged.
Changes to Nantwich rural services 72 and 73 will provide a link between Nantwich and Leighton Hospital, something residents highlighted during the consultation exercise which helped shape the improvements.
This will be invaluable for Nantwich residents to access their health appointments much more easily than is currently the case.
Another key improvement will be the expansion of the FlexiLink service (the customer-led service for disabled residents and those who are 80 years plus) to include a weekday 4.30pm to 9pm hours service, and a Saturday service from 9am to 6pm, over and above the current service.
This extension will be trialled initially to monitor its use and effectiveness, and will be funded by a £800,000 grant obtained from the Department of Transport.
Crewe and Nantwich MP, Connor Naismith, told Nub News: "I am delighted these plans are coming forward, and I'm grateful to Cheshire East for their work on this.
"When I stood for election in July, I put improvements to public transport as one of my five key pledges to Crewe and Nantwich.
"Since then, the new government has announced a revolution in the way our bus services are run, whilst I raised the issue of Nantwich's lack of hospital connection directly in the House of Commons.
"Cheshire East's new plans are the first step to fulfilling that pledge, and I will continue to fight for better bus services in my community.
"The council's plans demonstrate confidence in the future of public transport viability across Crewe and Nantwich and the wider sub-region as a result of the new government's reforms to public transport.
"Crewe and Nantwich was promised change at the election, and that change begins now."
READ MORE: Van driver in hospital with 'serious injuries' following collision near Nantwich.
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