Cheshire East's deputy leader believes Arriva's decision to close local depots causes an 'existential threat' to Sandbach's bus network - and the entire county.

On Monday (February 17), Arriva North West began consulting with employees on plans to close its Winsford and Macclesfield depots - affecting bus routes in and around Crewe.

The move, if confirmed, would see the shutting of the depots with Arriva no longer operating any bus services in the Crewe, Winsford, Northwich, and Macclesfield areas.

Services to parts of Cheshire East, including Crewe, Sandbach and Macclesfield would be scrapped.

On Wednesday (March 1), Deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, Cllr Craig Browne, reacted to Arriva's announcement.

He told Nub News: "Arriva currently provides a substantial part of the borough's commercial bus network – almost 50% - and many of the routes which link the towns and communities across our borough are long established.

"As a council, we were disappointed to learn of the announcement by Arriva, which will affect all their routes in Cheshire East.

"However, we anticipate other private bus operators will wish to consider providing services on some of the affected routes and we are obliged to allow space for them to assess the viability of these routes. 

Deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, Cllr Craig Browne (Cheshire East Council).

"Cheshire East Council will continue to monitor the situation closely and once a decision has been made, will review its implications for passengers across the borough.

"We understand that Arriva intends to carry out a consultation and during this period all routes currently provided by Arriva will remain in operation."

Arriva North West's decision affects six routes in and around Crewe.

This includes the 84 Crewe to Nantwich/Chester, 6 Leighton Hospital to Shavington, 31 Northwich to Winsford to Crewe, 37 Northwich to Winsford to Sandbach to Crewe, 38 Crewe to Macclesfield and 3 Macclesfield to Weston.

Cllr Browne said: "The council's vision for a modern bus network with enhanced service provision and improved infrastructure was clearly set out in our bus service improvement plan, prepared in 2022 in response to the government's 'Bus Back Better' strategy.

"Regrettably, the Government failed to provide any funding to Cheshire East Council to enable that vision to be realised.

"The commercial bus industry continues to experience challenges recovering from the pandemic, and bus passenger numbers are still 15-20 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.  

"Alongside inflation and labour shortages, we recognise that commercial operators are having to adapt, and that this can lead to business decisions such as the proposed closure of these local depots.

"Cheshire East Council continues to engage with Arriva, and other commercial operators, through our local bus partnership arrangements."

Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, believes local bus services have not recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic and need a major rethink.

Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan (Wikimedia Commons).

Arriva say both depots have been loss-making since before the pandemic and the number of journeys taken by passengers in the areas served by the depots has not recovered to the same levels as comparable operations following the pandemic.

Cllr Browne added: "While the council will try to minimise impacts of these challenges for passengers through careful use of our budgets for local supported bus services, we are ourselves also facing significant national funding and cost pressures.

"Unprecedented inflation alongside increased complexity and demand for services has added £33 million to the council's annual costs to deliver local services.

"Should Arriva go ahead and close its Macclesfield and Winsford depots, the council does not have the resources to fund the entire Arriva network as currently operated.

"This announcement by Arriva is an existential threat to the bus network in Cheshire.

"I shall be working with the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and our local MPs to impress on Government Ministers the seriousness of this situation for the travelling public."

Leader of Cheshire East, Cllr Sam Corcoran, is urging residents to sign a petition to stop plans to close bus depots in Macclesfield and Winsford. The petition is HERE.