Bus operator D&G have announced a shake-up to their timetables due to low passenger numbers resulting in major changes to three routes in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Adderley Green based company will controversially scrap route 23 after 25 June. The route covers Hanley, Stoke and Blurton on Sunday and Bank Holidays.

Two other routes have received changes which will go live from 2 July. Route 2 which goes from Hanley to Birches Head will have the first four and the last three buses cancelled and all buses will start five minutes later than previous.

Route 43 from Hanley to Baddeley Green via Milton has seen their service reduced from half hourly to hourly.

The new timetables can be viewed here.

D&G are based in Adderley Green, Stoke-on-Trent (Google).

In a statement D&G are critical of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and accused them of not following government guidelines over payments for concessionary travel and as a result income has fallen by 30 per cent since 1 April.

A spokesperson for D&G commented: "The changes we are making are to routes which are heavily dependent on payments we receive from the local authority for the concessionary travel scheme for elderly and disabled people.

"Government guidelines state that local authorities (in this case Stoke-on-Trent City Council) should maintain payments at pre-Covid levels. 

"While some authorities such as Cheshire East and Derbyshire have maintained these payments, Stoke-on-Trent City Council have ignored the guidelines and income to bus operators for accepting concessionary passes has been reduced by some 30% from 1st April this year. 

"Note that accepting these passes is mandatory so it puts us in a very difficult situation. As a result of this decision by Stoke-on-Trent City Council these routes have become loss-making and therefore have been reduced in line with the income we expect to receive."

Cllr Amjid Wazir, cabinet member of environment and enforcement advised: "The City Council reimburses the bus operators, in line with government guidelines for actual usage, and complies with the safety net level of 70% minimum payments should passenger numbers not meet this.

"We consulted with operators and received no challenge to the 70% proposals. We feel that this is a fair use of public money and fully in line with government guidance."

READ MORE: Vacant Longton site set to be reveloped into brand-new retirement apartments 

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