The town's blind and elderly communities are in uproar over the proposed closure of the bus station information centre.
The centre could be closed in December, the council has announced and there are fears the toilets could also be shut.
The Crewe depot will also go in a move saving £55,000 a year.
Former hospital porter Tony Gardener, 54, of Bridge Street, Macclesfield, is completely blind and a member of the Macclesfield Eye Society.
He said: "Our group is devastated. We’re so annoyed."
Tony, whose sight failed after he was diagnosed with severe retinitis pigmentosa in 1996, said the centre is vital to him when his helper, Brian Andrews, 63, isn’t with him.
"Without the toilets and the information office we will be in dire straits.
"Those who are visually impaired rely on being able to ask the people at the information desk where our bus is going.
"This service has been invaluable since I first went blind, but it's not just for those who are visually impaired, the elderly need the facilities as well."
Two jobs are at risk across Macclesfield and Crewe.
Coun Ainsley Arnold, leader of the Liberal Democrats at Cheshire East Council slammed the decision, saying: "It’s a completely negative step.
"I think it’s absolutely stupid that there might be no toilets and no information desk available.
"It will result in fewer people using public transport, which is not the way we want to go as a council."
Coun Jamie Macrae said: "We are now consulting staff involved in this decision and it is no reflection on officers who have always given excellent service.
"Should the decision to end this service be ratified, it is proposed to be implemented on December 31 2010.
He said the services offered by the information offices will be provided through other sources, including bus stop display boards, the Cheshire East Council website and the Traveline.
They are also investigating ways for people to buy specialist tickets.
A security guard will continue to patrol the station from 7pm-midnight as happens now.
"There are no current plans to shut the toilets at Macclesfield bus station, but it may come under review as a result of the proposal to close the bus information office," said Coun Macrae.
One regular user of the station said: "Don’t they realise that once you reach 70, life is just a never ending trip to and from the toilet?"
Madelyn Bridge, chief executive of Age Concern Cheshire East, said: "Older people tend to be the biggest users of bus services so this decision would affect older people more significantly than other age groups.
"We would suggest that any decision on closure should not be taken in isolation and that planning should look at the environment of the town centre as a whole.
"Older people do need access to toilets when out and about and it would be a shame if they limited their activity due to lack of facilities, possibly leading to less mobility and independence in the long term, with consequent costs for future social care budgets."
For timetable information contact Traveline on 0871 2002233.
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I went into the ticket office to sign the petition on Monday and it was already running to about 20 pages. People are angry. The man behind the counter told me that he has already lost daytime security cover and that if the office closes for good, travellers will need to go to to the train station to buy some bus tickets. Will the bus wait for people who thought they could buy them on the bus? No, of course not.
Not only is this a move that will put people at risk of mugging and antisocial behaviour at night, but it will also result in missed buses, a FAR WORSE SERVICE and lower revenues. This is a disastrous plan that will lead to councillors being voted out. So they'd better think about the those consequences.
So, why not expand the role of this office and get better value for everyone? It's a ticket office, it's central: why not sell other tickets there and other things?
Sounds like another ill-considered, shallow and completely arbitary decision by this 'caring' council. I would suggest the Conservative members put pressure on their Westminster confederates to reverse much of the folly of the recent Osborne 'slash and burn' spending review so that essential facilities and services like these can be maintained. Rationalise by all means but allow Councils to spend some of their often substantial reserves (remember council house sales receipts once promised to build more social housing) to address the shortfalls.
Not Surprised. Poynton.
why not get mr andrews to work the ticket office on a voluntary basis, i am sure he has a lot of spare time time on his hands, get the idle work shy unemployed to do it, make spongers WORK for the benefits they recieve.
If this proposed closure goes ahead, it will be the beginning of the end for Macc Bus Station. The reduction in security is already having an adverse effect on the place. If the office closes it will not be long before the bus operators refuse to go into the bus station. The council will then lose approx £50,000+ per year in "landing fees". And if no buses are using the bus station what's the point in keeping it open, or is that exactly what the council are up to????.....How much did it cost to build?...About £4million? How long ago? About 6 years? What a waste...There are many, many ways in which this council can save money if they actually got off their arses and had a look at what's going on. Maybe even get out and about and actually speak to the people of Macc, maybe then they will see how vital this service is to so many people. One more thing...The council have said that people could ring "Traveline" with their enquiries- up to date bus times, roadworks, services running late. Yes wonderful idea- the only thing is where do you think Traveline get their information from??? Yes you guessed it- the man in the office at the bus station....
Just to let everyone know i was speaking to one of the bus drivers tonight and the WHOLE bus station is being closed. at a cost of nearly £4 Million pounds it will be the most expensive empty shell we have in Macclesfield, although the bus station is to close it shouldn't affect the service all the drivers will be picking up from all the bus stops, also it was told to me that every time a bus departs from the bus station the company has to pay £1.00 to the owners of the bus station. So much for getting a petition up and running it was to no avail and by the sounds of it this has been on the cards for a long time.