Subsidy call to save rural bus services

A last-ditch attempt is being made to save three bus routes. Horrocks, which runs the services from Bishop's Castle, said that it had done all it could but the services did not pay.

The 860 service to Much Wenlock and Wellington, the 773 to Clun and Newtown and the 745 to Clun and Ludlow are due to end on July 22.

Residents have now appealed to Shropshire Council to help save them.

Margaret Wilson, of Bishop's Castle, said in an e-mail to Councillor Peter Phillips: "We need Shropshire Council to help us keep the limited transport we have by giving a small subsidy."

The council has suggested the Shropshire Link bus as an alternative, but she said: "These often mean changes of buses and waiting in inclement weather without shelter."

Andy Horrocks, owner of Horrocks, said: "We've got no money to subsidise the services which is a shame because a lot of people use them."

Mr Phillips, who is councillor for Bishop's Castle, said: "Shropshire Link will certainly not meet the case and we are an area which receives a lot of tourists."

Jonathan Hayes, Shropshire Council's team leader for public transport, said: "We are talking to Horrocks about the possibility of supporting these services without providing direct subsidy."