A THREATENED bus service linking Northwich town centre to Chester has been picked up by a new operator.

The 82 service, passing Watling Street, Greenbank, Hartford and Sandiway en route to Chester, will change hands from Arriva to D&G late next month, after financial issues caused the former to drop it.

The route also serves Sir John Deane’s, and runs hourly. Arriva will cease the service on October 28, before D&G pick it up the following day.

Cllr Charles Fifield, Cheshire West and Chester Council member for Weaver and Cuddington, said: “We are very pleased that the service has been saved.

“It is especially important to older residents in Cuddington & Sandiway in my ward of Weaver & Cuddington.

“My colleagues Harry Tonge, Paul Williams and I had been contacted by concerned residents and the parish council and we’re very pleased the council’s transport department has been able to resolve the situation and find another bus operator.”

D&G’s service, running Monday to Fridays as well as Saturdays, will provide an hour-long journey between Northwich and Chester bus stations.

Chris Almond, bus network manager at D&G, said: “One of the fundamental problems with the current timetable is that it doesn’t have enough time to run it.

"We will be adding extra resources, serving Sainsburys and Watling Street and then the Chester interchange, making it more useful for connecting services.”

An Arriva spokesman said: “Due to a decline in the number of passengers using the number 82 service over a significant period of time, we’ve had to make the unfortunate decision to withdraw the service from the October 28.

"Arriva has made every effort to keep this route in operation, including applying for financial help with no success, as we are aware that this is a vital service accessed by the student community of Sir John Deane college.

“We have approached the college to discuss providing a dedicated bus to help students with their daily travel and eagerly await a response from them.

"In the meantime, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and urge passengers to check before they travel from October 28.”

See the new D&G timetable here.