Birkenhead’s MP calls two public meetings on local bus services

Birkenhead’s MP Frank Field has called two public meetings to gauge residents’ views on the state of local bus services.

On the back of the initial feedback he received in the Autumn, Frank wrote to Merseytravel to outline his concerns around the difficulties all too many residents face when trying to travel to and from work, health facilities, shops, or the town centre.

He wrote of one particular concern that was, ‘voiced very strongly by residents on the Beechwood and Noctorum housing estates who rely heavily on buses. Those residents are particularly concerned about the availability of evening and weekend services, given that they are either unable to afford taxis or have to sacrifice large sums from their wages in order to do so. In the words of one resident, ‘the estate routes have been systematically decimated’ and some parts of town are becoming deserted as a result. I was told similarly by somebody who works in Birkenhead that, ‘I usually have to walk 20-30 mins from a bus stop, because buses don’t go into the estates. I don’t mind that but if your mobility isn’t great, it’s a pain’.

‘In all too many cases, this is limiting the ability of families to get to and from work without forking out large sums for taxi fares, or visit relatives who are ill. Noctorum residents who are reliant on buses cannot, for example, make it to the evening visiting times at Arrowe Park. In extreme cases, according to another resident, people are ‘being left stranded. It’s an absolute disgrace that middle aged and elderly women are walking home in the dark on cold winter nights’.

The two public meetings will take place on Saturday 23rd February and are open to all residents. The first meeting will begin at 9.45am and is being held at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Noctorum. The second meeting will begin at 10.45am and is being held at The Little Centre, Beechwood. Merseytravel have been invited to send a representative to each meeting.