A ‘furious’ row has broken out between a local MP and Arriva Merseyside, after the bus company confirmed it has cancelled bus services in one part of Merseyside. The news represented a further blow to people living in the area after recent complaints about poor transport options, and also the failure to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour issues.

The dispute comes a day after Arriva North West confirmed its decision to cancel bus services after 6pm, stating on its social media accounts: “Due to anti-social behaviour in Leach Croft (Stockbridge Village), evening journeys on services 12 & 13 will be withdrawn from the area from 1800 each night, until further notice.

“Not serving stops on Waterpark Drive or Leach Croft.”

placeholder image — Bus stop on Waterpark Drive | LDRS

This prompted a strong response from Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley, who immediately wrote a letter to Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Arriva UK Bus, calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the company’s decision.

Ms Midgley wrote: “Arriva’s decision to withdraw Services 12 and 13 from Leach Croft after 6pm [is] a decision taken with no warning or regard for the hundreds of people in Stockbridge Village who rely on these buses every day.

“This sudden withdrawal will effectively cut Stockbridge Village off from Liverpool each evening. Constituents received no warning whatsoever about this decision.

“It leaves elderly residents, parents, young people, shift workers and people with disabilities facing isolation and uncertainty about how they will get home, access work, or reach essential services. The impact on families and vulnerable residents is profound and unacceptable.

“I am furious that, once again, a major decision affecting my constituents has been taken without Arriva informing me directly as the Member of Parliament for Knowsley. Indeed, I only found about after BBC Radio Merseyside requested an interview with me to discuss it.”

Ms Midgley added: “I have the utmost respect for bus drivers and the vital work they do in serving our communities, and I fully recognise that their safety must be a priority. I have been in touch with the bus drivers union, Unite, to ask them to share with me any issues they are having and concerns for driver safety.

“If concerns about safety or anti-social behaviour have informed this decision, I need full transparency about what discussions took place with Merseyside Police before the withdrawal was implemented.

“Through my Big Bus Survey, I have already gathered substantial evidence showing how precarious and unreliable transport is for many people in Stockbridge Village, and how heavily residents depend on the network Arriva operates.

“This latest action only is yet another example of how bus services in Stockbridge Village are failing to serve our communities.”

Ms Midgley also detailed what she would like discussed at the urgent meeting, including information on when evening services will be restored, and a detailed plan on how to stop any future withdrawals.

Ms Midgley also posted the letter to her social media accounts, which prompted several comments from constituents concerned about both the cancellation of bus services, but also issues around anti-social behaviour.

Mim Little wrote: “Wow. I can’t believe they are doing this again. You were there to step in last time and you’re here again, which I’m very grateful for. Thank you for advocating for the many people affected by this and for trying to get the answers which are much needed!”

Annemarie Calvert added: “Instead of dealing with anti social behaviour appropriately, they punish the good people by removing needed minimal services they have.”

In light of Ms Midgley’s statement, the LDRS approached Arriva North West for a response, and an update on when full service will be resumed. A spokesperson for Arriva Merseyside told us: “We’ve recently experienced incidents of antisocial behaviour at the Leach Croft bus terminus in Stockbridge Village.

“The safety of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority. As a result, we have made the decision to temporarily omit the Leach Croft bus terminus stop between 6pm and 10pm.

“Services are continuing to operate throughout the rest of Stockbridge Village as normal. It is only the final stop on the route that is not being served during these hours.

“We completely understand the inconvenience this may cause; however, these measures are necessary to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. No one should feel unsafe while travelling or while carrying out their job.

“We are working closely with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on preventative measures to ensure the continued operation of the service. We will keep the situation under review and reinstate the terminus stop as soon as it is safe to do so.”

In response to the LDRS’ first report on the cancellation of bus services, a subsequent post on the Liverpool ECHO’s Facebook, prompted dozens of comments which hinted at the complexity of the issue, including from Samantha who posted: “I work in Stockbridge Village and depend on the 12 and 13 to get home at 9pm.

“Over the last seven months I have seen the shocking behaviour of the little darling teenage kids on there bikes throwing stones at the buses also riding behind the bus and opening the back and switching the bus off!

“I’ve sat on the bus plenty of times just stranded because the bus driver can’t go. I was on the bus last week when it happened again and the bus driver rang the police.

“Do you know what they said? ‘What do u want us to do’! Unless something is done all us will suffer.”

Replying to that comment, Derek Moore wrote: “I drive the 12 and 13 and from what I can gather the buses are going round the estate but not into the shops.”