(28 Feb 2023, 7:24 pm)Storx wrote Don't agree with it of course, but not surprised at all that they're closing shop down there. The area has been leaking money for years, similar with Arriva Midlands. Cheshire and Staffordshire have always been a bit of a minefield, I know First have totally wrecked the network in Stoke aswell but then I guess that's what happens in affluent areas where people won't be seen on buses.

North Yorkshire is just as bad across the board.

Be interesting to see where the buses end up, hopefully not up here though as there's all old wrecks pretty much.

It really is a result of the toxic combination of apathetic authorities and operator. This is surely the end for deregulation? When an entire county can’t sustain a bus service any longer.

There are of course extremely affluent pockets of Cheshire, but towns like Winsford & Northwich are not wealthy areas. Stoke on Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme are akin to Sunderland and Washington in their populations, ex-industrial base and satellite town set up. Difference is the combined PVR of all operations in the Potteries is less than just Deptford, without even considering Wheatsheaf. 

The Cheshire debacle has highlighted the ignorance of many people in their understanding of bus operators. A change.org to prevent the closures and umpteen comments online for the ‘contract’ to be awarded to someone else. Clearly people don’t realise they have as little power in this as their local Pizza Hut closing down. If Joe Public is already under the impression that buses are franchised, why not pursue the system anyway?