Bus budget should match housing rise

Dear Sir, - I would like to clarify the reason for the current consultation by Cheshire East on subsidised bus routes that has been discussed in the Chronicle recently.

The decision to cut the bus subsidy was made at the budget meeting of Cheshire East Council on 23rd February so, whatever the result of it, there will be £1.6m less to spend from April next year on this important aspect of public transport.

The consultation is on how this reduced amount should be apportioned and if any routes should be terminated, not forgetting that in the interim some currently commercial services might be handed to the council, increasing the potential losses.

What the council should be doing is increasing the budget to take into account the increased housing, much of it too far from town centres to be realistically walked.

It is a sorry state of affairs when legitimate bus routes compete against each other for a diminishing fund, something many people in Congleton will want to voice their concerns about.

If any routes are reduced, the loss should be made up by more personal options such as dial-a-ride and other individualised transport solutions.

The Liberal Democrats on Cheshire East Council voted against the budget in February. - Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST