Stoke-on-Trent has seen the second biggest decline in bus use in the country, new figures show. The number of bus journeys in the city fell from 15.6 million in 2009/10 to 10.3 million in 2016/17 – a drop of around 34 per cent.
Only Warrington has seen a steeper decline, with bus trips there falling by 36.6 per cent. Bus journeys in Staffordshire fell from 22 million to 18.5 million, a 16 per cent drop. Campaigners blame the fall in bus use in Stoke-on-Trent on cuts to services and fares hikes.
First Potteries recently increased fares, including concessionary tickets, by between 10p and £1, while the latest timetable changes – aimed at improving reliability – took effect in September.
But the company says a number of factors are behind the decline in bus use, including the opening of
Hanley’s ‘inconvenient’ new bus station in 2013, and the availability of ‘very cheap car parking’ encouraging car use.
Dan Flanagan, operations manager at First Potteries, said: “The statistics are concerning but there are several contributory factors to be considered that may have affected confidence in the local bus network.
First Potteries have increased their bus fares this weekend (and this is what you think)
“The bus station was moved to an inconvenient location away from the retail centre of Hanley, meaning people have a considerable walk to get the bus home after a day’s work or shopping. There has also been a general decline in retail attractiveness across our local market towns reducing the need or want to visit these locations, along with less disposable income being available for families to venture on a day out.
Hanley Bus Station.
“However, we will continue to deliver bus services where there is demand, it is quite simple really the more people that use the service the better it will be. We obviously have to consider when, where and how often people are travelling to determine the route, frequency and days of operation to make a service sustainable, as all financial support that was available has been removed by the city council”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s more up-to-date quarterly figures show that bus passenger journeys have continued to fall in 2018.
The authority says it is working with bus operators to reverse this decline, but that its powers are limited.
A council report states: “It is important to be clear that bus operators are commercial businesses not under the direction or control of the city council.
“Having said this, the city council is not without some influence and is intent on working with the bus operators to exercise that influence in the best interests of the city.
“However, the relationship primarily relies on the voluntary co-operation of the companies and must work in the light of the decisions that the bus operators make in their commercial interests.
“For example the decision to withdraw services from Longton Bus Station was made unilaterally by the operator, not by the city council.”
A First Potteries bus
The city council has been shortlisted for a share of the £840 million Transforming Cities fund, which could be used to develop bus rapid transit in Stoke-on-Trent, along with trams and light rail.
Owen Sloss, a member of North Staffs Pensioners’ Convention, says that the council and the bus operators need to work together to reverse the current downward trend.
He said: “The pensioners’ convention, nationally and locally, have been campaigning about the decline of bus use. As councils no longer regulate buses, companies will only run services where they can make a profit. In Stoke-on-Trent that means that there are no services from Norton on a Sunday, and buses from Stoke station to Hanley only run every 30 minutes. But that means fewer people use the buses, and so it’s a vicious circle. The fare increase could see bus use go down even further.
“I think the council and the bus companies need to get together to do something about this. I read a report about car use that said that in the next 10 or 20 years our roads are going to be at a standstill. In Stoke-on-Trent all it takes is one accident and everything is gridlocked.”
Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, transport and heritage at the city council, said: “We have ambitious plans for growth and modernisation in Stoke-on-Trent, and a big part of that is making sure we have a transport network that is fit-for-purpose and meets the city’s needs.
"That is why we are in the running for a share of the Government’s £840m Transforming Cities Fund, which could potentially oversee a transport revolution in our city.
"While bus companies are private firms that are free to make their own decisions, we are obviously keen to work with them and provide whatever support and assistance we can in order to maintain a good level of public transport for residents in the city.”
