MORE than £11 million is to be invested to improve flagging bus services across Mid Cheshire.

The state of bus services across Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich was a hot topic during this summer's election, with one resident describing it as 'appalling'.

Since 2010, bus miles have declined by 1.7 million miles in Cheshire West.

Then in April 2023, the network was dealt a huge blow when bus company Arriva closed its depots in Winsford and Macclesfield.

But the new Government has announced plans to deliver better buses across the country, including in Mid Cheshire.

The funding, part of a total £955 million being invested across England, will be split between Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East councils.

Mid Cheshire's Labour MP Andrew Cooper has backed the improvement plans, describing the £11 million funding as a 'crucial stop on the journey'.

He said: "I am delighted the Transport Secretary has confirmed more than £11 million of new bus funding across my constituency.

“People across Mid Cheshire are tired of unreliable, infrequent bus services holding them back from opportunities after a decade of neglect of our local bus services.

“This new Government has a plan to deliver better buses across the country, and this funding boost is another crucial stop on that journey.”

The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting.

It will help prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality, to bring an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.

As part of this investment, the way funding is allocated has been reformed.

The reforms will allocate funding based on need and will end the system of competitive bidding for funding.

This funding announcement comes alongside the Government’s plans to overhaul the country’s bus services in a generation, and call time on four decades of deregulation.

A new Buses Bill will be introduced to Parliament in the coming months as the Government looks to expand the power to take back control of local bus services to communities.

It will aim to speed up the process of delivering public control of buses by removing barriers to bus franchising and public ownership.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh added: “Buses are the lifeblood of communities, but the system is broken. Too often, passengers are left waiting hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have been cut off altogether.

“That’s why we’re reforming funding to deliver better buses across the country and end the postcode lottery of bus services.

“And it’s why we’re providing more than £1 billion of funding to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.

“This is part of our wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership.

“By delivering better buses, we’ll ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities – powering economic growth in every corner of the country.”