New bus service launched to encourage tourists to travel between Ironbridge and Much Wenlock

The new Wenlock Connect bus service will be launched on 2 June 2012 linking two of Shropshire’s key tourist attractions, Ironbridge and Much Wenlock.

The new service will run every weekend, bank holiday and school holiday until the end of October 2012.

The service will run each hour between the new Ironbridge Park and Ride site located off the Ironbridge Bypass (A4169) near to Jiggers Bank Roundabout, and call at key stops in Ironbridge, before travelling on to Buildwas Abbey and the historic market town of Much Wenlock which is recognized as the birth place of the modern Olympic Games.

The journey will cost £2 return for an adult, with concessionary pass holders and accompanied children travelling free.

It is hoped that the service will encourage visitors to Ironbridge to also include a visit to Much Wenlock during their day out, helping visitors to save on parking costs and the hassle of finding parking spaces. The new service will also provide a great new link for local people.

From Much Wenlock connections will be able to be made into south Shropshire on the Wenlock Wanderer service which was launched in May. This provides a linear Shuttle ride between Much Wenlock and Church Stretton. Journeying along the famed limestone escarpment of Wenlock Edge, through ancient woodland, into the folds of the Stretton hills and the Long Mynd. Stops will include the Acton Scott Historic Working Farm.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport, said:

“This great new service will encourage more tourists to visit Much Wenlock in this Olympic year, boosting the local economy whilst helping to relieve parking pressures, as well as providing a good value service for local people to use. If it is successful the service could be repeated in future years.”

Councillor Milner Whiteman, Shropshire Council’s local member for Much Wenlock, said:

“I am very pleased to hear about this new service, which will enable visitors to come to Much Wenlock, without having to worry about parking. It is only a couple of miles from Ironbridge and they can be assured of a warm welcome in the town where William Penny Brookes inspired the modern Olympian Games.”

The Wenlock Connect and Wenlock Wanderer services are being funded from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund Grant secured by Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Councils from the Department for Transport

Further information on the Wenlock Connect can be found at http://tinyurl.com/WenlockConnect

More information about the Wenlock Wanderer service can be found at http://tinyurl.com/WenlockW