• opportunity to raise travel issues

The Chair thanked Simon Finnie from Arriva for attending the forum again and Simon gave the following update:

• New vehicles used on the 432/433/437 routes have improved the punctuality and reliability of these services, and passenger numbers have increased in excess of 5%

• 15 new low floor buses will be introduced on the 403/413/423 routes will be introduced in September 2009

• The recent increase of the afternoon 432/433 services has had a positive result and led to an increase in passenger numbers

• The issue of connections to Lime Street Station has been looked into, and there is scope on the 432/433/437 to service this on an hourly loop basis. The problem is the amount of building work still going on in Liverpool City Centre, causing grid locking problems. Once we are satisfied that the work outside Lewis’s is complete we will look at this again, probably around September 2009, as this is high on our agenda

• We work closely with Merseytravel on improving service provision

The following questions / issues were raised:

1.  Carole Thomas – are there any plans to service Norton Street Coach Station from the Wirral?

A. We want to get buses through the tunnel as quickly as possible, if we were to take the 432/433 services through this area it could cause delays to these, but it is something that we will look at with provision of service to Lime Street.

2.  There is no 433 service after 6.60 pm or at weekends, leaving many elderly people stranded as would need to go to Poulton Road to get a bus to Liverpool. The off-peak service for the 433 should be extended to remedy this.

A. This will be looked into and considered for our September 2009 route amendments. From a business point of view weekends and evenings are areas we would look at to grow our service, especially with more leisure facilities being available in New Brighton and Liverpool One.

3.  Dave Hanlon – What is the situation re: traffic problems in Sir Thomas Street; could something be done re: 1hour+ gap in the 413 evening service from Liscard to Wallasey Town Hall?

A. The issue re: Sir Thomas Street is being looked at with Merseytravel. The issue re: 413 evening service will be considered at the next review of evening and weekend services.

4.  David Hale – can the issue re: 413 evening service be resolved by the next forum meeting?

A. The next service change is due in September 2009 (we try to keep changes to a minimum to avoid problems for users and bus drivers) so this should be done prior to the next meeting.

5.  Carole Thomas – we had been assured that the new buses were to be in place by the end of May 2009.

A. There was a delay due to another large bus operator placing an order with the firm that supplies the new vehicles, then cancelling this. The cancelling of the order led to staff at the firm supplying the vehicles being laid off which led to industrial action. We have now had confirmation that the vehicles are on track for a September delivery.

6.  Bins are needed at bus stops, as rubbish and cigarette butts are being dumped at stops.

A. Mark Smith confirmed that bins at bus stops are primarily a Council responsibility, and we do look carefully at all locations for bin placements. Please register any specific locations causing problems with our Streetscene call centre so these can be looked into.

7.  Carole Thomas – most bus stops do not have bins by them

A. Chair – Streetscene could look at this issue

Minute Decision  Resolved that:

(i)  Arriva to look at connections from Wirral to Lime Street and Norton Street; 433 off-peak service and 413 evening service at their September review

(ii)  Streetscene to look at issue of lack of bins at bus stops