WEAVER Vale MP Mike Amesbury has raised concerns over cuts to a bus service between Warrington and Runcorn.

Warrington Own’s Buses withdrew a number of peak time 62 and 62a services between Warrington Bus Interchange and Runcorn – via Moore, Sandymoor, Murdishaw and Halton Lea – at the beginning of this month.

A scaled down Saturday service is now provided by a private operator.

The changes were implemented due to the council-owned bus company’s shortage of drivers.

Mr Amesbury has now written to Warrington Borough Council over the issue, with worries having been raised to the member by Moore Parish Council.

He said: “There’s clearly a shortage of professional drivers which is hitting hauliers and bus operators across the country and here in my constituency, with the latest impact on this vital local bus service.

“There are a multitude of factors at work.

“Warrington Borough Council has mentioned delays at the DVLA and DVSA in processing provisional driving licences and providing test slots, along with pressures related to the national driver shortage.

“So is it also European nationals returning to their home countries, I wonder?

Warrington Guardian:

Mike Amesbury

“I share the parish council’s concerns that a reduction in service can leave communities isolated in making it difficult for people to access neighbouring towns and to get to work, college and school.

“This has been a crisis in the making over a long time.

“Certainly, Government ministers have been aware of this and I have raised it in Parliament with regards to the HGV sector.

“I’m pressing the case further with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council to look at what immediate solutions they are going to bring to bear.”

Other changes included the Cheshire Cat 6 and number 17 having new timetables, with altered timings on buses one, two and four.

Managing director Ben Wakerley told the Warrington Guardian ahead of the service reduction: “New bus timetables will start on Monday, September 6, as the schools and colleges return.

“As with the haulage industry, there is currently a nationwide shortage of drivers that is affecting us.

“As such, some services have been retimed so that customers can plan their journeys with greater certainty – and all the new timetables are at warringtonsownbuses.co.uk or available from our travel shop.”

Warrington’s Own Buses is currently advertising bus driver vacancies on its website for existing licence holders, as well as unlicensed candidates who would be trained up.

A council spokesman added: “Like other bus companies and hauliers, we are currently experiencing a staff shortage.

“Every effort is being made to attract, train and retain drivers.

“We are committed to servicing our customers and communities – we are hopeful that once we stabilise the number of drivers we need, we can review our network and begin to step up the levels of service across Warrington and our neighbouring boroughs, including Halton.”

A DVLA spokesman said: "We are prioritising HGV and PCV provisional licence applications, which are being issued in around two weeks.

"More complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed as part of a driving licence application, may face longer delays.

"There are delays in processing paper applications due to recent industrial action and social distancing requirements, which means that we have fewer staff than usual on site."