With no end in sight to the Arriva bus strikes, one area of Merseyside has become a public transport desert.
Seacombe in Wirral already has limited transport links with people calling it a "no man's land" after 6pm, but with the Arriva drivers' walk out over pay, the area has been completely cut off, exposing how poorly it is served. The Seacombe railway station that once served as a gateway to routes across Wirral and even as far as West Kirby and Wrexham in North Wales was closed in 1963.
This means the nearest stations (New Brighton, Wallasey Village or Birkenhead North) are at least 30 minutes' walk away. There are no Stagecoach buses serving the area, so links to the rest of Wirral are non-existent without Arriva.
READ MORE: Arriva slammed for 'pitiful' offer as bus strike talks break down again
And if you are thinking of hopping on the famous Ferry across the Mersey to get to Liverpool, you had better factor in a half an hour walk to the Woodside terminal as the Seacombe one is currently closed due to ongoing improvement works and construction of the new Eureka! museum. While some may argue a stroll (or cycle, though the cycle lanes are sporadic) to the nearest station or terminal would do you good, there are people who simply don't have the time or physical ability to do so.
Seacombe is one of Merseyside's most deprived wards and is in England's lowest 20% of most deprived areas and according to Wirral's latest annual public health report, which uses data from the 2011 census, only 30.9% of households in Seacombe have access to a car meaning many rely on public transport links. With many having to fork out for taxis to work and appointments, the bus strike has cast a light on how the people of Seacombe have been let down by important connections which often translate to better access to jobs, schools, NHS centres and shops.
And this doesn't touch on how important good public transport links are as we continue to tackle climate change. While this struggle is nothing new to the people who live there, it would be beneficial if Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach took note of the massive gap in provision in Seacombe as there is money for them to make, if you are of a more capitalist mindset, and people to help.
It is to be hoped the drivers and their union come to an agreement they are happy with and the people of Seacombe can look forward to welcoming them back on our roads soon.
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