Have your say on the future of transport

 

An eight-week public consultation is being launched to gain the views and ideas of people who use public transport.

Starting this Friday, the public will be consulted on proposals to review the bus services, which Cheshire East Council subsidises.

The consultation will look at those routes that are under-used, and see if flexible and community transport can better meet their needs.

The responses will be used to shape the Council’s future decisions on how the available budget is spent and which services the council should continue to subsidise.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “This review is all about looking at our public transport network with fresh eyes and with a reduced budget in mind.

“We want to hear all about how we can modernise the network, so that people in rural areas that don’t currently have access can tell us what their needs are.

“It’s also about looking at under-used bus routes and tapping into those communities to see if other forms of transport, such as community car schemes, could work more effectively.”

The review of the Council’s support for public transport has been triggered by recent changes in central government allocation of funding, which has increased pressure on local authority budgets.

The Council needs to reduce the amount it spends on public transport by approximately 18 per cent over the next twelve months.

Despite a challenging budget position and the need to reduce spending on public transport, the Council is still committed to spending £1.8m per year on supporting public transport.

The consultation provides the opportunity for local people and partner organisations to have their say on how the Council should support public transport in future and this will shape the Council’s future plans.

Further details about the consultation and how to take part will be available on the Council’s website (www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/travel) from Friday, April 27, 2012. The consultation ends on Friday, June 22, 2012.

Alternatively, the consultation material will be made available in local customer contact centres and libraries. A number of drop-in sessions are being held in towns across the borough during the consultation period.