Shropshire’s new bus strategy set to be agreed

Shropshire Council’s new bus strategy, which defines the principles and priorities on which the county’s local bus network will be provided over the next five years, is set to be agreed later this week.

The draft Bus Strategy for Shropshire 2011 to 2016 – which is the outcome of a detailed review of all road-based public transport services in Shropshire – was approved for consultation by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on 22 December 2010.

Since then an extensive public consultation has taken place to ensure the views and opinions of Shropshire people are reflected in the final version of the strategy.

Following the consultation a total of 11 recommendations, relating to 36 services, have been made, and these will be considered by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday 11 May 2011.

The consultation detailed potential changes to local bus services across the county, and gathered information from existing public transport users and non-users, parish and town councils, and a variety of other stakeholders.

In total over 1,000 completed questionnaires were received, plus approximately 200 more detailed responses from key stakeholders.

The council’s Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee established a Task and Finish group to oversee the consultation process and finalise the recommendations to Cabinet.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and IT, said:

“Shropshire Council faces difficult decisions in the short and medium term, as financial pressures increase on the budget for the provision of subsidised local bus services and concessionary travel.

“We understand the importance of public transport, especially for those more vulnerable and living in rural areas and we will strive to protect these.  However, as some services are subsided up to £21 per passenger journey, we need to make tough decisions if we are to protect key bus services.

“We’re grateful to everyone that let us have their views as part of the consultation exercise.”

The Task and Finish group has asked for further work to be undertaken to understand the full implications, on both commercial and subsidised services, of the possible withdrawal of all or part of the subsidy from evening and Sunday services.

As a result, further discussions about these services are to take place between council officers and Arriva.

Additional information

1. Recommendations being made to Cabinet relate to the following services:

• Service 552 / 553 Bishop’s Castle to Plox Green
• Service 20 Radbrook Green to Shrewsbury Bus Station (single Saturday journey)
• Service 492 – Bridgnorth Town Service (Thursday only)
• Service 540 – Cardington to Shrewsbury.
• Service 576 – Ruyton XI Towns to Shrewsbury
• Service 511 – Shrewsbury to Wem
• Service 524 – Meole Brace School to Roddington
• Service 341/342 – Market Drayton to Wellington
• Service 26 – Meole Village to Shrewsbury Bus Station
• Service 201/202 – Wem Town Service
• Service 436 – Bridgnorth to Shrewbury
• Service 435 – Ludlow to Shrewsbury
• Service 1 – Monkmoor to Gains Park (Evening services)
• Service 20 – Radbrook to Shrewsbury bus station (Evening services)
• Service 8A – Sutton Farm to Shrewsbury bus station (Evening services)
• Service 25 – Bayston Hill to Shrewsbury bus station (Evening services)
• Service 715 – Bouldon to Ludlow (school days only)
• Service 216 – Calverhall to Whitchurch (school days only)
• Service 132 – Cleobury Mortimer to Bridgnorth (school days only)
• Service 731 – Ludlow to Tenbury Wells (school days only)
• Service 755 – Cleobury Mortimer to Ludlow (school days only)
• Service 63 – Ifton Heath to Oswestry (school days only)
• Service 120 – Six Ashes to Bridgnorth (school days only)
• Service 217 – Whitchurch to Market Drayton (school days only)
• Service 815 – Newport to Market Drayton (school days only)

2. As part of the public consultation exercise:

• A roadshow visited the market towns and other main conurbations of Shropshire to consult with local residents and visitors.
• Consultation with stakeholders was undertaken via email and included schools and colleges, parish and town councils, neighbouring authorities, the Senior Citizens Forum and Age UK.
• A presentation was given to local bus and community transport operators.