BUS services around the county are in decline.

Data from environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth shows the number of hourly services in Cheshire West and Chester has more than halved in the last 16 years.

In 2006/08, there were 336 services each hour in the borough.

By 2010 this number had fallen to 227 and come 2023 the figure stood at 158, a decrease of 53.2 per cent in less than two decades.

The council say a number of factors have played into this, including driver shortages, rising costs and a change in consumer habits.

A spokesperson said: “Cheshire West and Chester Council is working closely with bus operators through the Enhanced Bus Partnership to make improvements to service, quality and bus frequency.

“Since the pandemic many bus passengers have found different ways to travel or shop or are now working from home.

“The number of concessionaires is approximately 65 per cent of pre-Covid levels whilst travel by fare paying passengers has increased.

“The bus sector is experiencing driver shortages, inflation and increased fuel, operational and staffing costs.”

They added: “Winsford and Northwich were also affected by the closure of the Arriva depots in April 2023 at Winsford and Macclesfield, with bus operators stepping in to assist the travelling public at that time by registering services.

“Not all of the previous services and frequencies were registered on a like for like basis but services have been provided for the communities affected.”

It’s not just in Cheshire West and Chester there has been a decline, Warrington has also seen the number of services more than halve.

In 2006/08 there were 209 services in an hour but in 2023 there are just 76, a drop of 52.7 per cent.

Warrington's Own Buses is responsible for services such as the 9 and 9A which travel to Northwich.

Meanwhile Cheshire East has seen services drop by 55.4 per cent in 16 years, from 162 in 2006/08 to 61 in 2023.

Despite this, Warrington Borough Council remain positive about the future of buses in the area.

A spokesperson said: “The drop in numbers of bus services and bus passengers in Warrington historically was replicated in many other parts of the country, due to significant funding cuts applied to all councils.

“However, for several years we have been working closely with all our local bus operators to improve services and encourage people back onto the buses, using £16m in Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.

“The outlook for buses in Warrington is very positive and bus passenger figures are continuing to increase, as a result of close partnership working between the council and all bus operators.”

They added that through partnerships with local operators, they have been able to offer reduced fares, free concessionary pass travel as well as new routes and extended timetables.

The council has also installed new bus shelters, introduce new bus priority measures and will this year replace Warrington’s Own Buses’ entire fleet of diesel buses with zero-emission electric buses.

Cheshire East Council was also approached for comment but none was provided.