By Alexander Greensmith

Belle Vue Coaches have announced a revised timetable for its Macclesfield to Stockport buses.

Belle Vue is to reduce its Stockport - Macclesfield route from every 90 minutes to every 2 hours from 25 February 2024. 

It is a mix of good and bad news, depending on where you use the service.

Dorchester Way in Tytherington and Kerridge Village will have an increase in bus services from every 3 hours to every 2 hours.

However, residents of Badger Road, Tytherington Drive and Marlborough Drive in Tytherington as well as Crossfield Road, Bollington Cross will lose their bus service.

Here are some of the changes summarised:

• The 391, 392 and 393 is to serve Poynton and Bollington (near The Cotton Tree pub)
• 391 to also serve Kerridge and Tytherington. Bollington Cross no longer served.
• 393 no longer operates on a Saturday
• The majority of Belle Vue buses will now run as a 392

Comparison timetables can be found in below links:

• Current 391/392 Weekday https://bustimes.org/services/391-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-02-21
• Current 391/392 Saturday https://bustimes.org/services/391-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-02-24
• New 391/392 Weekday https://bustimes.org/services/391-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-02-27
• New 391/392 Saturday https://bustimes.org/services/391-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-03-02
• Current 393 Weekday https://bustimes.org/services/393-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-02-22
• Current 393 Saturday https://bustimes.org/services/393-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-02-27
• New 393 Weekday https://bustimes.org/services/393-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-03-01
• New 393 Saturday https://bustimes.org/services/393-stockport-macclesfield?date=2024-03-02

The Stockport-based bus operator have been contacted for comment. (Image - William Connolly / @WC2512)

Belle Vue Coaches were given a 21 day period to respond to a request for comment by Macclesfield Nub News, but did not respond.

The Belle Vue buses, recognised for their distinctive red design, are not the only way to get to Stockport from Macclesfield via public transport. (There is also the train.)

However, it is from places like Bollington and Tytherington.

Greater Manchester bus enthusiast William Connolly wrote to Macclesfield Nub News: "I am writing to express concerns over the upcoming timetable changes to the 391/2/3 bus services between Stockport and Macclesfield that would see it reduced from a combined every 90 minutes to combined every 2 hours with most buses running as 392."

"This service has already been reduced from hourly to every 90 minutes due to driver shortages- surely Cheshire East Council should be working with Belle Vue to get this service back up to hourly as opposed to cutting it further.

"It's quite clear the service is in a vicious cycle of cuts when it needs a stimulus to incentivise demand and encourage public transport (not just on the 391/2/3 but Cheshire East in general). If we look at Poynton for example. It's a town but its only bus service will be the 391/2/3.

Macclesfield: How will the cuts affect you? (Image - William Connolly / @WC2512)

"There are students who travel from Stockport to college in Poynton but can't use the service due to the infrequent timetable, resulting in either expensive train journeys or relying on lifts, hindering their independence and freedom.

"Just eight minutes drive away from Poynton is Bramhall in Stockport, a similar size and similar population, however their bus services include the 42B to Manchester and 378/9 circulars for Heald Green/Stockport, with three buses an hour as compared to one every two hours in Poynton.

"The 391/2/3 is run on behalf of Cheshire East Council by Belle Vue Coaches. What exactly is the council's standard for bus services? What is their vision? Do the council want to grow the network and encourage more to travel by public transport? Their actions suggest not!

William has started a petition to stop the cuts, with currently 51 signatures as of publication. You can sign it on THIS LINK.

Macclesfield Bus Station. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Cheshire East Council have also been contacted for comment. They gave the following information bulletin:

"A new timetable goes live on 25 February for the 391 and 392 bus services – providing a more punctual and reliable service for people travelling between Macclesfield, Poynton and Stockport," they said.

"Both bus services, which are fully subsidised by Cheshire East Council, connect people in one of the more rural areas of the borough with key service centres including Stepping Hill Hospital and train links to Manchester and London.

"They are also services well-used by walkers accessing the Peak District.

"The council recognises that reliability is very important for passengers, so in partnership with the bus operator, Belle Vue, the frequency of both services has been changed from 90 minutes to every 120 minutes.

"It is hoped that by doing this, these rural services – which are regularly impacted by delays, largely due to weather-related incidents – will run to time, are reliable for passengers, and will be used by more people.

"As part of the timetable changes, Kerridge has been added to the route, while Bollington Cross and Badger Road have been removed due to particularly low passenger take up and access issues in these areas."

It was revealed in 2021 that Cheshire East boasts one of the lowest rates of bus usage in the UK.

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