Raby Mere residents launch campaign to stop bus service

Oct 14 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Wallasey News

RABY Mere residents have launched a campaign to STOP a bus service serving the small community.

The number 38, operated by Prenton-based Avon Buses, runs along Blakeley Road on its route from Eastham to Clatterbridge Hospital.

The company argues the service is vital to a small community like Raby Mere.

But people living on the route have launched a campaign to stop it – saying they didn’t ask for the bus and don’t use it.

They argue narrow Blakeley Road, which has no footpath and tight bends, is unsuitable for vehicles like buses.

Residents have collected 38 signatures on a petition calling for the service to be re-routed and have written to Wirral South MP Ben Chapman asking for his help.

Brenda Jones, 76, who has owned a house on Blakeley Road for 40 years, said: “We didn’t ask for it and we don’t want it – everyone here has cars and nobody is ever on the bus.

“They’re using us as a cut-through and we don’t think it’s a very good idea.

“The bus used to go down the end of the road so if you wanted it you could go down there.

“When you get down towards the Mere you get lots of children with their parents and grandparents and other people out walking, but they have to use the road because there are no pavements.

“It’s dangerous and we’ve all said we’ll lie down in the road if necessary. We’re all so fed up of it.”

Residents say the bus was re-routed through Blakeley Road three months ago and previously took a different route.

Avon Buses declined to comment, but workers described the situation as “surreal”.

In a letter from the company’s operations manager Mike Bennett to Mr Chapman MP, Mr Bennett said public transport was vital to small communities like Raby Mere.

The letter goes to to say: “The narrow nature of the parts of this road with tight bends and no footpath in places is not uncommon.”

He added: “While I accept the wishes of Mrs Jones. I feel we should not forget this service represents the only public transport link to this isolated community.”