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Yet more changes for bus users as Arriva axes another route

More changes will be made to the bus network across Staffordshire, just weeks after a raft of service cutbacks were announced.

Published

Earlier this month, Arriva revealed that it would close its Stafford depot and move operations to its Cannock base on September 3.

It also announced cuts to routes, including stopping all buses to the Wildwood part of of the town. Now more changes to the network will take place and another service will stop.

And other services could face further alterations in October following discussions with Staffordshire County Council, it has been revealed.

Arriva has now posted on its website that the 26 bus from Rugeley to Etching Hill will stop. That will be replaced by another route, the 22, which will run every half an hour off-peak from Monday to Saturday.

The 3 route from Cannock to Walsall will miss out three stops in Norton Canes – on Chapel Street, Norton Green Lane and Jerome Road.

Unacceptable

And the 15 route from Boney Hay to Burntwood and Lichfield, along with the 19 and 20 circular services around Cannock via Hednesford, could also be changed in October following council talks.

In total, 15 bus services will have their routes changed but far more are subject to change.

In a letter sent to Arriva's chief executive, Manfred Rudhard, Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling criticised the 'unacceptable' services cuts 'that mean parts of the constituency will be left with no bus service at all and others will have reduced service and no service during the evenings'.

Miss Milling added people in Cannock Chase are 'outraged' to find bus services 'once again under threat'.

She added: "They have waged a constant battle over recent years to maintain bus services and now they find they are once again under threat.

"Many of the people who depend on the buses are elderly or infirm and they will become isolated from amenities such as local shops and GP surgeries.

"Other constituents who rely on the bus to get to and from work will no longer have a service that they can use."

A petition to save services set up last week had already got the backing of 347 people yesterday.

When the cuts were announced, area managing director for Arriva Midlands (West) Rob Cheveaux said: "Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, low passenger numbers on some of our routes have meant that it is no longer commercially viable for us to continue operating them as they are."

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