A TRUCE has been called in a war between two rival bus companies over the right to serve more than 16,000 Chester residents.
For more than two years residents in Blacon and Saughall have complained of too many buses flooding their roads as Arriva and First Group battled it out for passengers.
But the competitors have now promised to work together to a timetable drawn up by the council.
The long-running saga began in 2007 when First bought ChesterBus, formerly Chester City Transport, and then went head-to-head with Arriva over profitable routes in Blacon leading to Saughall and back into the city centre.
At one point residents reported buses were making stops on their routes once every two-and-a-half minutes.
Meanwhile communities in other parts of Chester complained about having too few buses to serve their needs.
The new co-ordinated ‘Blacon Pointer’ is due to hit the road on August 29, staffed by modern low-floor vehicles with green low-emission engines.
While service frequency will still be among the highest in Cheshire, the number of buses leaving the Chester bus exchange bound for Blacon and Saughall will drop off considerably from the present 36 every hour.
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) executive member for community and environment, Cllr Lynn Riley, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to broker a commonsense solution for the benefit of everyone who lives, works or visits the city.
“This Voluntary Quality Partnership arrangement, believed to be among the first of its kind in Britain, has set a firm foundation for a modern, clean and sustainable public transport network in Chester.”
Cllr Riley added: “There will be fewer but newer buses operating through the city’s streets causing less congestion and pollution, and reduced costs will give bus operators the opportunity to reinvest in better vehicles for other routes within the city.”
Arriva Buses Wales managing director Michael Morton said: “Arriva Buses Wales is pleased to be part of this important development in the provision of excellent quality bus services in Chester.
“A commonsense formula on bus operating times will provide, not only, necessary bus services, but will allow investment in even more modern buses that the people of Chester will be proud to travel in.”
Managing director for First, Richard Soper, added: “We are delighted to be taking part in this partnership with our colleagues at CWaC and Arriva to bring a much improved service to our customers in Blacon and Saughall.
“With investment into modern, low floor easy access branded vehicles and a coordinated timetable, I am confident that this partnership will deliver what the community has needed from their local bus service.”
The council is now due to bring forward its commitment to upgrade the bus stops and publicity along the line of these routes.