Work to bring vital Sandycroft bus service back is underway

Work to bring a vital bus service back is well under way, say local community representatives.

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant, MP Mark Tami and Cllr David Wisinger were concerned to hear that Arriva has altered its number 12 Connah’s Quay to Chester service so that it no longer calls at Phoenix Street in Sandycroft.

Cllr Wisinger said: “On Phoenix Street there is the Phoenix House care home, and at the bottom of the street there are a lot of pensioners and people with disabilities. Across the road is the Willow Brook Park with 44 retirement caravans.

All these people now have to walk almost half a mile and cross a busy main road to get the bus at Chester Road.”
Carl Sargeant has written to Arriva and Flintshire Council on behalf of constituents.

Arriva have advised the council that the route has been amended because drivers were struggling to get down Phoenix Street with vehicles parked on both sides.

In light of this the community council has agreed to pay for yellow lines so that motorists do not park on both sides.

“Officers at Flintshire Council believe Arriva will reinstate this part of the route if traffic is regulated and drivers can get through,” said Cllr Wisinger.

He has carried out door-to-door consultations and the lines will only be on parts of the road where it is practical to put them and residents are happy that they have plenty of parking. He is also trying to secure parking bays at the front of the Phoenix Court pensioner properties to help alleviate the problem.

Carl Sargeant said: “It’s important that everyone can access bus services easily so they can get to appointments, shop, be sociable and mobile.

“I hope these improvement measures will be in place soon and that Arriva will do their very best to get this part of the route back up and running.

I’ll be keeping an eye on this to try and ensure this busy part of Sandycroft gets a fair deal.”

Mark Tami said: “Cllr Wisinger has been working with officers at Flintshire Council to try to solve this and Carl and I will support him in seeing the changes through and getting this important service back.”