First have announced that the bus service will not be running on the evenings of Saturday 24th and 31st December. In both cases the last bus will run from the City centre at about 1900 hours (see right for full details)

This seems a little early to us given the campaign to stop drink driving and the fact that City Centre car parks are always full on Christmas Eve.

Church services will still be taking place and the traditional public carol concert in St Helens Square will only just be getting going when public transport stops running.

Taxis will be at a premium and, while we appreciate that bus drivers also deserve a rest over the festive season, one wonders whether the Council subsidy – which is being paid to run some park and ride services on Boxing Day – might have been better used to extend public transport provision on Christmas Eve?

Boxing Day in the City centre is traditionally a very quiet day with most attractions and employers closed. Only a limited number of shops will open their doors.

First aren’t running their normal bus services but the Council is underwriting the cost of providing 4 buses an hour on Park and Ride services 3, 7 & 9 between 0700 & 1830.

City centre car parks are rarely busy on Boxing Day and we wonder why residents would drive to an out of town car park simply to get on a park and ride bus?

Still the buses (and City centre car parks) will be “free” (meaning they will be subsidised by taxpayers!)