MERSEYTRAVEL has announced a catalogue of Wirral bus routes may face the axe after a cash-cutting review of services in the borough.

The shake-up began in May last year and has already covered St Helens, Sefton and Liverpool - causing a public outcry.

Working as part of the “Bus Alliance” - a formal partnership with Arriva and Stagecoach - the travel organisation is hoping to create a “simpler, clearer and more direct network that can help encourage more people to take the bus.”

Chairman of Merseytravel Cllr Liam Robinson said: “The information we have received during the initial consultation from Wirral residents on their patterns of bus use and what would get them to use it more has been extremely helpful and insightful whilst drafting these prosed changes to the network.

“We now want comments on these detailed proposals before we finalise the plans.  “We’ve worked hard with all the bus operators in re-scoping the network and believe these proposals will offer a network that is clearer, simpler and with some real benefits for the people of Wirral.

“We recognise that the proposed changes may not suit everybody and in some cases people will have to walk further to catch a bus and may have to change services to reach their final destination.

"But we’ve had to look at how we can best meet people’s needs within budget constraints due to Government spending cuts.

“This is us continuing to work innovatively through the Bus Alliance when other areas outside the Liverpool City Region, due to budget pressures, are seeing some communities left without any bus services.”

Merseytravel will put on three events where members of the public can speak to  staff about the proposals and give their views.

Three drop-in events will take place on the following days:

Friday, June 16, from 10am to 3pm, at Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, Liscard .

Monday, June 19, from 12.30pm to 4pm, at Bromborough Civic Centre.

Wednesday, June 21. from 10am to 3pm. at Birkenhead Bus Station  

The review concluded that these services may be withdrawn:

423 (Seacombe to Liverpool)

901 (Leasowe to Moreton)

403 (Seacombe to Arrowe Park Hospital)

293 (Woodside to West Kirby)

286 (Eastham Ferry, New Ferry to Eastham Ferry)

154/155 (Birkenhead Bus Station to Prenton)

118/119 (New Brighton, Arrowe Park Hospital, Mill Park)

112/113 (New Ferry to Poulton Lancelyn)

Bus services revised:

10/10A (New Brighton – Arrowe Park Hospital)

84 (Clatterbridge Hospital – Raby Mere)

85 (Heswall – Clatterbridge Hospital)

410 (New Brighton- Clatterbridge)

106 (Liscard – New Brighton– Moreton Cross)

110 (New Brighton - Clatterbridge Hospital)

124/125 (Wallasey – Seacombe Ferry)

492/495 (Woodside- Noctorum) 203 (Woodside – Seacombe Ferry)

218/219 (Mill Park-Woodside)

413 (Seacombe – Arrowe Park-Woodside)

418/419 (Mill Park- Arrowe Park Hospital-Woodside)

Proposed plans will be available for view and comment on online at www.merseytravel.gov.uk/busreview