PLANS to shorten the Mold-Ellesmere Port bus service will save Flintshire County Council £270,000 next year.
The significant saving – which will come into effect on January 26 – will be achieved by cutting a single bus route by just over 10 miles according to chief officer for Streetscene and Transportation Katie Wilby.
Ms Wilby this week highlighted the areas where her department had identified in-year savings to meet stringent budget targets to Flintshire’s Environment and Economic Overview Scrutiny Committee.
Among the savings was one of more than a quarter of a million pounds which will be achieved by terminating the number five bus at Deeside Industrial Park rather than continuing it on to Ellesmere Port.
The number five currently runs from Mold, through New Brighton, Buckley, Ewloe and Queensferry to Deeside Industrial Park and on to Ellesmere Port, stopping at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, Stanney Grange, The Cat pub in Wolverham, Ellesmere Port Bus Interchange and back. The new plans will axe the final 10.5 – mile stretch over the border into Cheshire.
“Based on the reduced number of vehicles required to operate the service and reduced mileage, it is anticipated that the changes will mitigate a budget pressure of £270,000 in 2025/2026,” said Ms Wilby.
“By focusing on the sections of the route with the highest use, this has encouraged more operators to bid for the route, achieving a more competitive contract price. In addition, this has also allowed a timetable that operates with one bus instead of two buses.
“The revised service and timetable will come into effect from January 26 and will integrate with the Deeside Shuttle bus service enabling connections into the Deeside Industrial Park for access to employment.”
