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First Potteries axes journeys and cuts routes in timetable cull – full list
Transport giant First Potteries is reducing routes and axing journeys – leaving passengers furious. First Potteries is bringing in the latest raft of changes from Sunday, July 2.
The cull includes completely cutting off Audley and Wood Lane, axing evening and Sunday services, and cutting back services between Hanley and Biddulph and Hanley and Kidsgrove to hourly services.
First Potteries commercial director Ian Smith said: “On Sunday 2 July some of our services will be changing to coincide with how, when and where people are travelling by bus around the Potteries area. Some timetables will have minor frequency changes and some evening and weekend journeys are being withdrawn due to very low patronage at those times. But by working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council we have managed to retain some journeys with financial support.
“I realise that some of the upcoming changes may bring some inconvenience to the few people that use the bus at those times, but bus services need to be supported to secure sustainability and unfortunately in the areas affected by the changes, we have seen a decline in demand.
READ: Top transport minister announces £30m plan to transform Stoke-on-Trent’s bus services
“We are starting to see early signs of patronage growth on some routes with the introduction of the Government-funded £2 single fare which is very positive and we will be working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring further fare initiatives over the coming weeks.”
Villagers in Audley and Wood Lane have already launched a petition in protest at the changes to the number four Hanley-Audley service which will now end in Waterhayes. It has attracted more than 700 signatures in a matter of days.
Jo Pullin works as a legal secretary in Newcastle.
The 51-year-old, from Wood Lane, said: “I use the bus to get to work and back and losing the service would mean reducing my hours. It’s getting us down. My husband uses the bus, he’s an Avon rep. He’s on and off the buses all the time. The 8am bus I get is packed.
“Disabled people and pensioners are all going to be trapped. People already say they feel secluded. I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe they’re doing it without consultation.”
Here’s the First Potteries cuts in full:
- Service 3, 3A Hanley – Crewe/Talke Pits: Buses will continue to operate every 10 minutes between Kidsgrove and Tunstall, Monday-Friday daytime. A few journeys in the evening have been withdrawn.
- Service 4, 4A Hanley – Audley/Kidsgrove: Buses will now terminate at Waterhayes and Audley/Wood Lane will no longer be served. On Sundays, service 4 will operate between Hanley and Newcastle only. D&G will continue to operate between Wood Lane and Audley. There are no changes to the route of service 4A and there will continue to be a bus every 15 minutes, Monday-Friday daytime between Hanley, Festival Park, Newcastle and Chesterton. Some evening journeys have been withdrawn.
- Service 6, 6A Hanley – Coalville/Blythe Bridge: A few evening journeys have been withdrawn.
- Service 7, 7A Hanley – Kidsgrove/Biddulph: Buses will now operate hourly on each route, Monday-Saturday daytime and will provide a half hourly service between Hanley and Chell. The Sunday service is withdrawn.
- Service 11, 11B Hanley – Newcastle/Bentilee: There are minor timetable changes to help improve reliability. There are no changes to the frequency.
- Service 18 Hanley – Leek: The Sunday service is withdrawn.
- Service 23 Hanley – Newstead: We’ll be operating an hourly service, during the day on Sundays, between Hanley and Blurton. This will be provided under contact to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
- Service 25 Hanley – Keele: There are minor timetable changes to help improve reliability. The ‘university vacation’ timetable will be in operation on the date of the change.
- Service 98, 99 Newcastle – Ball Green/Chell Heath: There are no changes to these services, which are now financially supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
- Service 101 Hanley – Stafford: The Sunday service is withdrawn.
