A BUS route connecting Wilmslow to Knutsford and Altrincham could be cut from a half-hourly to an hourly service, absorbing two further journeys.

The 88 service, which currently runs every 30 minutes and connects Knutsford bus station with Winsford railway station and then the Altrincham interchange, is one of many set to be reduced by Cheshire East Council as part of a bus network review.

Proposals for the cuts go before a scrutinee committee today, Thursday, before being put to cabinet for a vote on Tuesday, May 9 ahead of a potential consultation period.

The review suggests that the 27 route to Macclesfield and 289 to Northwich be retained and absorbed into the 88 route – alternating between the two towns every other hour.

This would mean that the new ‘E1’ route would travel between Altrincham and Macclesfield, while the ‘E2’ would stretch from Altrincham to Northwich.

On both the E1 and E2, the bus would travel through Wilmslow each hour before branching off to either Macclesfield or Northwich, which would serve each destination every two hours as at present.

Cabinet members will also be asked to approve ceasing Sunday services on the 130, and no longer support the 200 service.

Explaining the decision for the 200 Wilmslow to Manchester Airport route, the report said: “This service currently runs at a relatively high level of subsidy per passenger due to low volumes of passengers using the service.

“The service provides a link between Wilmslow, Styal and Manchester Airport between which rail alternatives are available.”

If approved at cabinet, the recommendation would go to a 10-week public consultation.

A report to CEC councillors said: “As part of the medium term budget plan for the council, a saving target of £1.576 million from the supported bus budget is proposed to commence from April 1, 2018.

“In order to achieve this level of saving a fundamental review of the whole network has been undertaken to optimise the social and financial benefits that the supported bus network provides.”