A worker left stranded by his regular bus service has collected more than 1,000 signatures in protest at it being axed.
Anthony Rollins, from Whitchurch, used to get the 18.20 bus home from Chester, where he works, but since its cancellation he has had no choice but to leave work earlier or get a taxi.
Mr Rollins organised the petition after the timetable between Whitchurch and Chester on the 41, 41A and X41 routes was amended on March 2 making his journey home from work impossible. Mr Rollins said: “I’ve never organised a petition before, but in between four and five hours in Whitchurch I got about 200 signatures.
“Yesterday I had people queueing up to sign it.”
Mr Rollins said that he had aimed to collect 500 signatures but is now going for 1,500.
Officials from Cheshire County Council claimed they had no choice to make the cuts after Shropshire County Council refused to make any financial contributions to the service. But an official from Shropshire County Council said a decision had not yet been reached over funding.
Despite a more direct service on some routes, the frequency of services has been halved from Whitchurch, while services on both Sundays and Bank Holidays have been removed.
A Cheshire County Council spokesman said: “When the 41 and 41a service was launched approximately five years ago it was fully subsidised by the government. When this funding ran out last year we asked Shropshire County Council if they would make a financial contribution towards their portion of the route.
“Regrettably they refused, which means Cheshire County Council must now subsidise the entire route.”
Gareth Proffitt, Shropshire County Council spokesman, said: “Shropshire County Council has received a request from Cheshire County Council to help fund the 41 bus service.
“However, no decision has yet been made.”
He added that the council was waiting for passenger figures to be compiled to show how much the service was used.
The petition can be signed online at http:// gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-41-bus-cuts.html
Mr Rollins will be outside Whitchurch Civic Centre this weekend with his petition. He can be contacted on 01948 667734.
l Did you use the bus service? What do you think of the service being axed? Email us with your views to jbutterworth @shropshirestar.co.uk or send your letters to: John Butterworth, The Editor, North Shropshire Chronicle, Chronicle House, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DN.
