A COMMUNITY has been left without a route to hospital, school and shops in the town centre after it was finally confirmed the local bus service would be scrapped.

Described as a “vital lifeline” for the community of Prenton the 83a was withdrawn when Wirral bus firm Avon collapsed

Despite attempts by another firm to keep it running, it was confirmed last week that the route, which served areas between West Kirby and Birkenhead, is to be scrapped.

A petition signed by more than 800 people was handed to Wirral Council’s full meeting on Monday evening asking the local authority to back calls to reinstate the service.

Alan Dollery, chair of Prenton Tenants and Residents Association, who is leading the campaign alongside local councillors, said: “The 83a is a vital lifeline for the community of Prenton. The service links Prenton not only to Birkenhead town centre, but crucially with Arrowe Park Hospital.”

Cllr Angela Davies, who represents Prenton ward, said: “The shocking collapse of Avon has had a terrible impact on local residents. Families trying to visit relatives in Arrowe Park Hospital, children travelling to school, people getting to the shops or work in Birkenhead now face either an expensive taxi ride or a complicated chain of travel to get there.

“The bus services should be built around the needs of communities, especially those with more elderly residents and those who don’t drive, not simply the profits of operators.

“Our petition is calling on the council’s support for our campaign to ‘Save The 83a’ and calls for the council to apply its influence on Merseytravel, the Metro Mayor and public transport companies to act now to reconnect Prenton with vital services across Wirral.”

Cllr Davies handed the petition to the council on Monday, and followed fellow Labour councillor Steve Foulkes, who handed in a separate petition calling for Avon’s 492 and 495 services to be reinstated.

He told the meeting: “Some of it’s been replaced but the evening-time and Sunday service no longer exists, leaving many people isolated and stranded.”

A Merseytravel spokesperson said: “Route 83A between Birkenhead and West Kirby via Prenton Dell, Arrowe Park Hospital, Hoylake and Meols was previously operated By Avon Buses.

"When they ceased trading in October Arriva stepped in to replace the 83A for a 6 week period.​

“At the end of that period, having had chance to review the service, Arriva withdrew the 83A but re-routed their 418 service to cover Prenton Lane and Prenton Hall Road.

"This was the only area of route covered by the 83A that would have been greater than 400m from a bus service. 

"Although the 83A offered some direct links, other services are available but some individual journeys will now require interchange.

“The areas of West Kirby, Hoylake and Meols still have a link to Arrowe Park Hospital by service 22 and to Birkenhead by service 38 (and 407 from January 2019) and the majority of the Prenton area still has a link to Arrowe Park and Birkenhead by service 418.”