A NORTHWICH resident has spoken out about how changes to bus routes in Northwich will have a 'dreadful' impact on people who rely on those services.

From Sunday, November 14, Arriva made changes to timetables and routes in Cheshire East and West.

According to the bus operator, this includes new through connections between Weaverham and Rudheath, and from Barnton to Leftwich and Kingsmead, more direct connections from Northwich to Winsford and Crewe and a new local Winsford service.

But Northwich resident Susan Sproston says the changes will further highlight the need for a 'reliable and regular bus service'.

She explained: "I was informed by an Arriva bus driver that the 37A bus service will no longer be calling at Prospect Drive bus stop nor Kingsmead, which will be a dreadful inconvenience, and no doubt impact on the lives of people living in those communities and particularly anyone suffering from mobility problems.

"There appears to be an assumption that everyone in rural areas are well-off and not in need of a bus service but nothing could be further from the truth."

Susan added that all areas of Northwich should be regularly serviced by buses.

She said: "This will enable our young people to get to and from school and college more easily and employees travelling to their workplaces needn't worry about weak transport links.

"Drivers would be able to leave their cars at home to avoid car parking problems or getting stuck in traffic jams.

"There is a lot of building development going on in Northwich and these businesses are more likely to thrive if people in our communities have a regular and reliable public transport system that operates to all areas right up to midnight."

A spokesperson for Arriva said: "We have undertaken a review of services that we currently operate in Northwich and Winsford.

"The result of the review is that the interurban services will become more direct, reliable and better co-ordinated.

"In Winsford, many of the areas no longer served by the 29, 31 and 37 will be replaced by a new local service 7A and 7C.

"This service can be used to make connections on other services."