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Ref: 08/09                                                                                                                                 9^th January 2009

New Bus Services For Macclesfield, Poynton And Knutsford, Wilmslow

Cheshire County Council is introducing improvements to bus services linking Macclesfield and Poynton with Stockport and Knutsford and Wilmslow with Altrincham from January 12^th.

New buses with a low floor entrance and space for a wheel chair or child’s buggy will be operated by Vale Travel, providing an hourly daytime frequency between Knutsford, Wilmslow and Altrincham.

Cheshire County Council has produced a route guide for this service which is to be called “Connect 88”. The new buses also wear an eye catching “Connect 88” livery making them stand out.

Similar buses will also be operated by BakerBus branded as ‘The Shuttle’, providing an hourly daytime frequency between Macclesfield, Poynton and Stockport.

Cheshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways & Transportation Eveleigh Moore Dutton said:

“These two initiatives are yet another example of our Transport & Regeneration Service working with service providers to offer communities a modernised and accessible public transport service.

“I am sure that the information route guides and attractive vehicles will encourage people who haven’t travelled by bus recently to sample what we can now offer”

Gareth Lloyd-Davies, Director of Vale Travel said: “Vale Travel and its sister company GHA Coaches have worked with Cheshire County Council for a number of years in the Chester area and the operation of Connect 88 from Knutsford to Altrincham fits in well with our long term plans.”

Managing Director of BakerBus Phil Baker said: “We are pleased to again work with the County Council to deliver a quality service on the Macclesfield to Stockport route and are looking forward to continually developing it as we have done on other routes we operate in Cheshire and Staffordshire.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: At The Launch At Tatton Park Charlie Williams From Vale Travel, County Council Chairman Steve Wilkinson, Executive Member For Highways And Transportation Eveleigh Moore-Dutton And Phil Baker From Bakerbus.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For Further Information Please Contact County Councillor Moore-Dutton On 07711 817060, Principal Transport Officer Gerard Rhodes On 01244 973879, Gareth Lloyd-Davies From Vale Travel On 01978 810070 And Phil Baker From Bakerbus On 01782 522 101.