Cheshire East’s current FlexiLink bus service is to operate under the Go-Too “on demand” brand from August, the authority has announced.
But users will be hit by a 33% fare hike, as journey fares will rise from current £3 a journey for over 16s to £4.
CEC says the move will create a single “demand responsive” service operating across the borough.
Go-Too was introduced as a pilot in Nantwich in 2021 and is now being expanded following a service review and as part of the Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) programme.
From August 2026, FlexiLink will also operate under the Go-Too scheme and will cover all of Cheshire East, operating within four zones.
Currently, Go-Too operates from 7am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday.
But from August, according to Cheshire East, it will operate Mondays to Fridays between 9.30am and 2.30pm, and 4.30pm to 9pm. On Saturdays, it will run from 9am to 6pm.
Fares will be £4 per journey for those aged 16+ and £2 (under 16s). Journeys remain free for concessionary bus pass holders.
Cllr Anna Burton, of Nantwich North and West, said: “Cheshire East Council has undertaken consultations, and many residents have clearly expressed a desire for the service to be extended into evenings and weekends.
“That inevitably has implications for staffing and cost, which will have been carefully considered.
“In principle, I am open to the idea of integrating services if it delivers a more effective and reliable offer, consistent with what residents expect from a demand-responsive system.
“I recognise that change can be challenging and that no transport system is perfect,
“But if these improvements help people to get out and about, encourages greater use of public transport and reduces reliance on private cars, then I am fully on board.”
Cllr Mark Goldsmith, Cheshire East Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “FlexiLink provides a vital, flexible transport option for residents, particularly in rural areas where traditional bus services are limited.
“From August it will offer enhanced coverage across the borough, including more buses and extended operating hours.
“The service is evolving under the “go too” brand following the end of Department for Transport grant funding.
“This brings together the best elements of both FlexiLink and go too to create a more consistent, demand-responsive service that better meets the needs of all our rural communities.
“This will mean more buses, operating over a wider area, a new Saturday service and longer hours in the evening too. The current age restriction of 80 years or older is also being removed.
“As part of these changes, the fare has increased by £1. This reflects both the personalised, on-demand nature of the service, the increased costs of operating it and last year’s nationwide £1 increase in the price cap for standard bus journeys.
“Even with this adjustment, the service continues to offer a flexible and accessible option for reaching essential everyday services for those who cannot access the traditional bus network.
“Concessionary travel remains available for eligible passengers, and we will continue to review the service and fares as it develops.”
The current Go-Too is not available to Residents of Nantwich South and Stapeley, yet there are no bus services whatsoever operating south of the Railway Line after 5pm, so will the ‘permitted use’ map for the existing Nantwich scheme be updated with the introduction of the evening services – or will these only be for the newly added areas, leaving the whole of Nantwich with just the 84 and 84X operating after 5pm, the route of which is never nearer that 1.5 miles from parts of Stapeley currently prohibited from accessing the Go-Too service? The new service is due to start in just over a month’s time and yet, apart from the scant information contained in this article, there are no further details on the Cheshire East website.
So, more cost… less availability if I am reading this right…
Some, I believe, use the early bus to get to work.