SOBS campaigners will fight for bus 'lifeline'

Residents in Worleston and the surrounding villages have launched a Save Our Bus Service campaign after plans were announced to axe the number 58 route from Church Minshull to Nantwich.

Cheshire County Council says the service, which runs twice weekly, is not financially viable due to low passenger volume.

But angry residents have launched a petition to fight the proposal and will be lobbying local councillors to save the service.

Campaigner Niamh Vernon said: "At a time when the council should be doing everything possible to promote public transport, Worleston already has the worst public transport system in 150 years.

"It's mainly retired people who use it and it's our only form of public transport.

"There are people who rely on it to get their pension, go shopping and go to the doctors.

"It's a real lifeline and we will push as much as we can to save it."

The campaign team hopes public pressure will force the council to hold a consultation before the service is scrapped.

The number 58 runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between Church Minshull, Aston juxta Mondrum, Worleston, Reaseheath and Nantwich.

Cheshire County Council says that the decision has been taken because its running costs have become prohibitive.

A council spokesman explained: "The decision has been taken because of the cost per passenger.

"In general we would be looking at a £2 cost per passenger, but at the moment the cost is £14.21 per passenger per journey, so it would be more than £28 for a single passenger making a return journey.

"It is not financially viable for us to keep it running. The fundamental thing is that there are not enough people using it.

"We would be looking at seven times more passengers to make it viable."

The spokesman added that there were bus services running through Church Minshull every 15 minutes and other solutions were being examined for residents in surrounding villages.