BUS services in Winsford and Middlewich will be axed six days before Christmas.


GHA Coaches has announced that bus services X20, going from Middlewich, through Winsford to Chester and Cheshire Oaks, the X22 from Winsford to Liverpool via Northwich, and the X81, from Winsford to Hanley via Middlewich, will all be withdrawn from Saturday, December 19.


An announcement from GHA Coaches stated: “GHA Coaches have given notice to the Traffic Commissioner to withdraw the following services from 19th December 2015. None are supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), and there are no plans to reinstate them as tendered contracts.


“The Cheshire Community Development Trust, who operate the Vale Royal Dial a Ride service, have been informed with a view to accommodating people from the areas left without public transport alternatives.”


The X20 operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the X22 operates on Saturdays only, and the X81 operates on Wednesdays and Fridays.


However, Middlewich councillor Mike Parsons said if GHA had provided a ‘proper daily service’, it would be used a lot more and would be seen to be more viable to the company.


Cllr Parsons, member of Middlewich Town Council and Middlewich ward member at Cheshire East Council, said: “It’s very sad to lose any service in Middlewich.


“They will probably say that there is a utilisation problem but of course there is because instead of finding out when people want to use the service they just put the service on and say ‘here you go, use that’, but it doesn’t work.


“If GHA had a proper service to Chester and Hanley every day, it might be taken more seriously.


Quite frankly I am losing patience with people who are supposed to be in the business of public transport but have no idea how to put a proper service together.”


Winsford Town Council supported the X22 service for around six months when it was initially cut by CWAC in 2014, but town councillor Mike Kennedy said he cannot see any way of service being supported again by the council.


Cllr Kennedy said: “Basically it’s going to be devastating for the residents of the affected areas. A week before Christmas is not an ideal time to stop a bus service.


“It seems as though this is a financial decision by GHA but you would think that during the Christmas period the buses would be packed with people going to the likes of Liverpool and Cheshire Oaks.


“As a town councillor I can only say that the town council did not fund this so we have no control over it.


“When the town council stepped in to support the service to Liverpool and keep it going for six months, it was always a temporary thing, we didn’t have the funds to keep it going.


“I would imagine that Cheshire West and Chester Council is not in any position to step in and help with these issues because of government funding cuts and the town council is in the same situation.”