MP secures timetabling improvements to the Number 84 bus service after local campaign with parents, students and teachers.
Aphra Brandreth MP has announced a positive change for local students and parents who rely on the Number 84 bus service between Chester, Tarporley, Nantwich, and Crewe.
Concerns had been raised in recent weeks that the current morning schedule for the Number 84 was resulting in the late arrival of pupils at Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College. Local parents had commented on the professionalism of bus drivers but emphasised that a tweak in bus timings was urgently needed.
Ms Brandreth made representations to Cheshire West and Chester Council for an alteration to the bus timetabling schedule, and as a result, Stagecoach, the service provider, has agreed to consider adjusting this key service by 7 minutes to help ensure students at the school arrive on time.
Stagecoach will now submit the change to the Traffic Commissioner, meeting the required notice period for public bus service amendments. The new schedule is set to take effect from 20 January 2024.
Ms. Brandreth expressed her gratitude, saying:
“I am pleased that Cheshire West and Chester Council and Stagecoach have responded positively to the concerns of our young people, parents, and local teachers.
The current morning schedule for the Number 84 is not working, resulting in many A-Level and GCSE students missing out on vital education. This was also having a knock-on effect for local parents, many of whom were being forced to drop their children off at school themselves.
The updated schedule promises to improve daily journeys for pupils attending Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College. I am delighted that we have worked collaboratively to get a great result for everyone involved."
Headteacher at Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College, Jonathan Deakin, said:
“This change to the bus schedule will help to remove the anxiety of being potentially late to school for a significant number of students. It will also help our school staff who have the task of monitoring the arrival of these students after the school bell each morning. It is an issue that the school and parents have raised, and I would like to thank Aphra for this decisive intervention.”
Lindsey Whitehead lives in Duddon and her daughter, Isabel is a student at Tarporley Sixth Form. Ms Whitehead had written to Aphra Brandreth MP to highlight the inadequacies of the Number 84 bus service. Commenting on the news that changes were being made to the timetable, she said:
"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Aphra in securing the amendment to the Stagecoach 84 bus timetable. This will make an important difference for the many students who rely on this route each day to reach Tarporley School and Sixth Form on time.
The previous schedule had consistently resulted in students arriving late. As the only bus servicing the A51 route, with only an hourly frequency, there were no practical public transport alternatives for the students.
This change will have a significant positive impact on students’ attendance and punctuality. The delayed arrivals have been a source of stress for both students and their parents alike. Isabel and her peers are immensely grateful for Aphra's support and dedication to addressing this issue.
For us personally as a family we were often left making a daily choice of who would have to be late each day. If I was to take Isabel to sixth-form it would result in me being significantly late for work, whereas if Isabel got the bus, she would then be late for school. So for us this small timetable change makes a massive difference.
Thank you once again to Aphra for her commitment to our community. Her efforts are truly appreciated."
