A PLAN has been drafted to boost bus services across Cheshire East hit by a massive drop in passengers and the effects of Covid.

The Cheshire East Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) sets out proposals to work with local communities, public transport users and local bus operators to improve services and develop changes across the network.

There has been a 24 per cent fall in passenger journeys since 2011 and that has been compounded by the recent loss of custom during the pandemic as people have steered clear of public transport for fear of catching the virus.

Now borough council transport chiefs hope the plan will help deliver a better quality, more reliable and more frequent bus service with simpler integrated ticketing.

They want it to build on the success of its existing Flexilink service as well as its recently-launched 'go-too' demand-responsive bus service.

Cllr Laura Crane, chair of the members' advisory panel on the plan, said: "The bus network in Cheshire East is facing a number of challenges due to a long-term structural decline in passengers.

"Use of buses could take some time to recover, as passengers need to be confident that using bus services will provide the reliable, safe and cost-effective transport that they expect.

"We need a bus service that works for our residents – a more reliable, more user-friendly and greener service to ensure that bus travel does not become a thing of the past."

The improvement plan submitted to the Department of Transport to secure funding aims to aiming to improve reliability and punctuality, simplify fares and improve integration of public transport between 2021 and 2023.

To 2025 and up to 2030 it aims to provide more frequent services, better access and information as well as improved value for money.

Then beyond 2030 the hope is that bus use will be seen as more attractive than other forms of transport helped investment in new bus/rail interchanges.

Cllr Craig Browne, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "This is an ambitious plan and improving the speed, reliability and quality of public transport would help encourage more residents to choose the bus, make fewer car journeys and contribute to our carbon reduction commitments."

The council plans to agree an enhanced partnership agreement with bus operators by April next year.