Changes to bus services agreed
Changes are to be made to a number of bus services in Shropshire, after Shropshire Council’s new bus strategy was agreed this week (11 May 2001).
In a move that will save the council around £350,000 per year, the council’s Cabinet has agreed to reduce or end the subsidy paid to bus operators towards services that fall outside the objectives of the strategy.
Cabinet also agreed to withdraw subsidy from a number of services which are deemed as being ‘high cost’ compared to the number of passengers that currently use the services. Some of these services are costing the council up to £21 per passenger journey.
However, a number of services that were set to be cut or reduced, will now continue to operate.
The ‘Bus Strategy for Shropshire – 2011 to 2016’ is the outcome of a detailed review of all road-based public transport services in Shropshire.
A draft strategy was produced in December 2010 and an extensive public consultation was then carried out to ensure the views and opinions of Shropshire people were reflected in the final version.
Following the consultation a total of 11 recommendations, relating to 36 services, were made, and these have now been agreed by councilors.
The changes will come into effect in mid-July following a 56-day notification period.
Shropshire Council are currently working with affected bus operators and will inform passengers of the exact service changes in the near future through posters displayed on affected services and on the council website at shropshire.gov.uk/transportconsultation.
Services that remain unaffected at this time, following feedback received during the consultation, are:
• 201 / 202: Wem Town Service – the current days of operation is to be maintained
• 435: Ludlow to Shrewsbury – the current frequency of the service (ie. hourly) is to be maintained.
• 436: Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury – this hourly service is to continue.
• 552/553: Bishop’s Castle to Plox Green – will continue operating within the current timetable.
Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said:
“We understand the importance of public transport, especially for those more vulnerable and living in rural areas. 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.”
Cabinet opted not to hold further discussions with Arriva about a number of evening and Sunday services, agreeing that subsidies for these services should also end with immediate effect.
The report presented to Cabinet can be seen by clicking here.
Further information
Recommendations made to Cabinet related 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 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)
Evening services
• 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 Service 24 – Harlescott to Shrewsbury bus station via Sundorne and Castlefields (evening services)
Sunday services
• Service 70 – Oswestry to Shrewsbury
• Service 436 – Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury
• Service 501 – Ellesmere to Shrewsbury
• Service 553 – Bishop’s Castle to Shrewsbury
• Service 64 – Hanley to Market Drayton to Shrewsbury
