TOWN and village leaders are again working together in a bid to improve bus services in SK9.

Following a review, Cheshire East Council could be set to stop subsidising the 200 service from Wilmslow to Lacey Green, Styal and Manchester Airport, leaving the future of the bus under threat.

Meanwhile, the subsidised 88 between Knutsford, Wilmslow and Altrincham looks set to have its number of services halved, and the commercially-run 378 to Handforth Dean will stop running next month.

Wilmslow Town Council, Styal Parish Council and Handforth Parish Council want to propose an alternative solution to CEC – with a possible circular route on the drawing board.

But with the 378 having been deemed commercially unviable by two different firms in three months, the councils want to canvass opinion with residents to make a proper judgement on demand for buses.

At a meeting on Monday, June 19, Cllr Martin Watkins, chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, urged members to discuss bus services with residents in their ward.

He said: “We are used to the phrase ‘use it or lose it’, and we are used to parking problems in Wilmslow.

“What we are not familiar with is why many residents choose not to use a bus when one is available. We need to find the answer to that question.

“CEC needs us to tell them the emotional reaction to this – 3,700 people signed a petition to save the 378 but 3,700 did not support the bus service. We need to find out why people don’t use the bus when they could do.”

Town councillors will canvass opinion before drawing up a consultation response to CEC at the next meeting, on Monday, July 17.

Residents across SK9 are also urged to take part in CEC’s consultation, as the council looks to make a saving of more than £1.5million due to cuts imposed by the Government.

Cllr David Brown, CEC cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “Changing the way services operate is always a very complex issue.

“Naturally the council wants to weigh up the needs of all our service users for such an important consultation, so we are determined to take every possible opportunity to get the message that we want to hear your opinions out there.

“We will still be investing more than £2m in subsidised bus services.”

The consultation can be found online at cheshireeast.gov.uk/busreview

A public event will also take place at Wilmslow Library on Monday, July 3, from 2pm to 7pm, where CEC staff will be on hand to provide more information.