Elderly bus users to 'bear brunt of cuts' if ShropshireLink service is axed
Elderly passengers will "bear the brunt" of service cuts if a council-run bus is axed later this year, it was claimed today.
And bus commuters fear the possible closure of the ShropshireLink bus service "is only the beginning" of transport cutbacks across the county.
The fears have been raised after bus drivers this week revealed they were being made redundant by Shropshire Council on November 30. They said up to 20 people could lose their jobs and claimed council bosses had also said the service was ending.
Eric Tarrant, who lives in north Shropshire and uses the number seven service, said the bus drivers were "fantastic" and the loss of the service would be felt by many.
"They are not just bus drivers," he said. "They are also part of our communities and have a real concern for the elderly which makes them true ambassadors to the council.
"We live in times where getting a job is difficult and to lose these skilled drivers – who know the routes like the back of their hand – will be a real loss. As passengers we will bear the brunt of this service being cut and it is obviously going to affect all the older folk the most."
Councillor Claire Wild, cabinet member for transport, this week said the service was still operating as normal and that no decisions would be made on its future until a report is presented to councillors on July 24.
She added: "No formal decisions have yet been made and a report outlining the options for the future of ShropshireLink is due to be considered by councillors in July. We will continue to ensure that drivers are kept up-to-date and are aware of any developments."
But Mr Tarrant claimed everyone using the service was now braced to lose it, saying "a lot of us have been in this world long enough to know that the meeting later this month will just be to rubber stamp the move. He added: "Someone is not telling the truth and it seems to me that this is only the beginning of a lot of cutbacks in the pipeline in terms of transport."
The ShropshireLink service has a fleet of nine vehicles and serves seven primary and secondary schools as well as providing transport for hundreds of elderly passengers.
