Axing Stafford buses is 'absolutely ludicrous' - councillor
Axing bus routes risks cutting people off from vital services, a Stafford councillor has said.
The final day for services across Staffordshire looms before a new timetable is introduced across the Arriva network on September 2. Councillor Chris Barron, who campaigned unsuccessfully to keep routes in St Leonard's Avenue last year, said Arriva risked dividing the town into two halves, with the north maintaining the majority of its services and the south seeing cuts.
Councillor Baron and residents said they were happy to see some services become less frequent but not entirely stopped, an option that has so far been rejected by Arriva.
She said: "All they have got to do is reduce the frequency of the services.
"If it is not paying and they are not going to put buses on every 20 minutes or half an hour then if they have got a couple of times in the morning, couple of times in the afternoon, then at least people will be able to get to appointments. To stop them altogether is absolutely ludicrous. They are not asking for a full service just so they can get to doctor's appointments."
Another Wildwood resident and three route user, Reg Willis, 74, said: "It is a good service and we've been using it for three years but people don't use it."
Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling set up a petition against the changes affecting her constituencies, which has been signed by more than 350 people.
Area managing director for Arriva Midlands (West), Rob Cheveaux, said earlier this week the company was undertaking a restructure of its business across the West Midlands.
