A driver shortage has resulted in bus services being cut on a route connecting three separate towns.
Reductions to the 62 and 62A service linking Runcorn, Widnes and Warrington have prompted Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, to raise the issue with Warrington Borough Council chiefs following contact from Moore Parish Council.
Mr Amesbury said the “crisis” had been “long in the making” as he questioned whether a European drivers leaving the country due to Brexit combined with training delays could be to blame.
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He said the cuts to the 62 bus has affected constituents in Moore and the Runcorn neighbourhoods of Sandymoor, Murdishaw and Halton Lea.
A spokesman for Mr Amesbury’s office said the cut was one of several route reductions announced by Warrington Council-owned Warrington’s Own Buses, which is making efforts to recruit and retain drivers amid a “staff shortage”.
He said the 62 and 62A service operates between Warrington, Runcorn and Widnes but since September 6 several journeys have been dropped and there is now a scaled-down Saturday service provided by a private operator.
Mr Amesbury said: “There’s clearly a shortage of professional drivers which is hitting hauliers and bus operators across the country and here in my constituency, with the latest impact on this vital local bus service.
“There are a multitude of factors at work.
“Warrington Council has mentioned delays at the DVLA and DVSA in processing provisional driving licences and providing test slots along with pressures related to the national driver shortage.
“So is it also European nationals returning to their home countries, I wonder?”
He added: “I share the parish council’s concerns that a reduction in service can leave communities isolated in making it difficult for people to access neighbouring towns and to get to work, college and school.”
The Weaver Vale MP added: “This has been a crisis in the making over a long time.
“Certainly, Government ministers have been aware of this and I have raised it in Parliament with regards to the HGV sector.
“I’m pressing the case further with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council to look at what immediate solutions they are going to bring to bear.”
Warrington’s Own Buses is advertising bus driver vacancies on its website for existing Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence and non-licence holders to be trained.
A Warrington Council spokesperson said: “Like other bus companies (and hauliers), we are currently experiencing a staff shortage.
“Every effort is being made to attract, train and retain drivers.
“We are committed to servicing our customers and communities.
“We are hopeful that once we stabilise the number of drivers we need, we can review our network and begin to step up the levels of service across Warrington and our neighbouring boroughs, including Halton.”
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