Bus giant unveils improvement plan

Bus firm Arriva today unveiled a raft of planned improvements to services across Shropshire - including new vehicles, extra pick-up times and extended routes.

More buses will go to key locations such as the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the new vehicles will be adapted to make it easier for disabled and elderly people to access them, if the improvements are ratified.

The changes follow a review by Arriva after scores of complaints from passengers and councillors who called for improvements.

The firm carried out a survey of bus users and said it was drawing up a list of changes, which will take effect from early September.

Although the full list of proposals is still being drawn up early changes include 19 new low floor buses running across the county and extra pick-up times from Shrewsbury Train Station and from Shrewsbury town centre to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The low floor buses, for easier disabled, elderly and pushchair access, will travel between Shrewsbury, Telford, Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Whitchurch and Wem and are gradually being phased in over the coming months.

Last week Arriva managers met transport directors at Shropshire Council to outline the plans, and the authority will need to sign them off before they are finalised.

Extra services are proposed to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with the Telford Estate bus route being extended from the town centre to the hospital as part of the changes being put forward.

Keith Myatt, of Arriva, said: "We're going to have more links to the hospital. It will be 12 minutes frequency between the hospital and the bus station in the town centre.

"We are still working on the project at the moment with more meetings happening.

"We are hoping to introduce a network of services across local bus use in and around Shrewsbury.

"This includes a proposed increase in buses from the train station going up to every five minutes to meet trains arriving during the day."

News of the improvements has been welcomed by Lyn Briggs, deputy chief executive of Age Concern Shropshire.

She said: "I'm pleased as we've had older people getting in touch who are very concerned about the service from the town centre to the hospital."

By Emma Kasprzak