Cheshire East Council have launched a consultation exercise designed to capture the views of all interested parties on proposals for its FlexiLink service as it looks to improve and modernise its offer to passengers.
FlexiLink is a flexible bus service that provides shared transport to users who specify their desired location and time of pick-up and drop-off. FlexiLink provides access to key services (such as shopping and health services) for those residents who are eligible:
- The service is available to those who are aged 80+, have a disability, or live beyond the reach of any other public transport
- The current fare is £3 per journey or free if you have a concessionary bus pass
- All journeys must be pre-booked at least 48 hours in advance via telephone
- The core hours of the service are between 9.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Friday
- The FlexiLink service currently picks service users up from their own home
Cheshire East Council are currently reviewing the FlexiLink service to understand how the service has been performing, with an assessment of efficiency, affordability and value for money. The review so far has identified a number of significant challenges, including low levels of demand, under-utilised vehicles and often inefficient vehicle use due to a lack of automated routing and scheduling software. We have therefore identified a set of potential proposals to expand & improve the service, ensuring it is more efficient, cost effective and sustainable.
The draft proposals in summary are:
- Make the service available to more age groups and regardless of ability so that more residents can use the service
- Introduce a fare for concessionary pass holders to improve cost effectiveness of the service
- Move to designated pick-up points to improve efficiency of the service
- Provide an option to connect to existing bus and rail services to enable onward journeys
- Adjust the operating hours of the service to cater for more journeys
- Improve the booking system so that users are able to book onto the service online / via an app as well as by telephone
The public consultation will run until 30th September 2023 and can be completed online at: FlexiLink: Service Proposals (cheshireeast.gov.uk)
The survey can also be requested in alternative formats by contacting the council’s customer contact centre on 0300 123 5500. printed copies will also be available in local libraries.