Bus routes axed as part of town timetable changes

A number of bus routes in Derbyshire are being withdrawn as "fewer people are travelling".

Stagecoach said its services in and around Chesterfield were being amended from 25 October, with some fully axed and others reduced.

This includes withdrawing the 5 and 38 services. The 90/90A will be withdrawn beyond Staveley and will no longer run to Bolsover and Langwith, while the 3 will no longer operate on Saturdays.

A statement from the firm said: "This is a nationwide trend caused by continued growth in online shopping and the impact of the cost of living crisis. As our costs also continue to rise we have had to make some changes affecting poorly used parts of our network."

Other changes to routes and timetables are also planned for October, according to Stagecoach.

The 74/74A will become just the 74 and no longer serve Woodthorpe.

The 15 to Dronfield is being rerouted to cover parts of the lost 5 route, while the 16 will be rerouted to serve the Chasecliff Estate and Green Farm Close and the 84 rerouted from West Bars, to cover for the withdrawn 38.

The 90B inbound buses will change their route through Chesterfield town centre via the town hall.

There will also be timing changes for the 1, 10, 25, 39, 43/44 to Dronfield, 50/50A, 54 and 170 to Bakewell, while the 583/584 school services will be provided by another operator.

Toby Perkins, Chesterfield MP, said he plans to meet with Stagecoach over the changes.

He said: "Any reduction or withdrawal of services needs to be properly understood, particularly where it could leave people with no practical alternative.

"I've arranged an urgent meeting so I can raise these concerns directly and get much greater clarity about exactly what changes are being made, why they are being made and what impact they expect them to have."

"These changes have been designed to have the minimum adverse impact on our customers whilst ensuring we can continue to offer a high standard of service and good value for money," said Stagecoach.

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