Council looks at replacing bus services

Ways are being sought to partially or completely replace the three south Shropshire rural bus routes scrapped on Wednesday, council bosses said today.

The move comes after the three services were officially terminated when last-ditch negotiations to save them failed.

The routes were commercial services operated by Horrocks bus company which announced at the beginning of July it could not make them pay.

The withdrawal of the 860, 773 and 745 routes means there is now no bus service from Bishop's Castle to Wellington and no services from Bishop's Castle and Clun to Newtown or Ludlow.

But the Local Joint Committee for Bishop's Castle, Chirbury and Worthen and Clun is continuing to explore a number of options with Shropshire Council to replace in part or wholly the local bus services.

Laura Owen, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: "Recognising the value to the rural communities of these local bus services, work is now under way between LJC members and Shropshire Council officers to explore a number of options that may replace in part or wholly these lost services."

After recent national publicity, a private operator has come forward who may be interested in taking on two of the routes (860 and 773) on a commercial basis. But if that does happen there will be a lead-in period of anything between 28 and 56 days, as this will have to be cleared by the Traffic Commissioners.

Nigel Hartin, chairman of the Bishop's Castle, Chirbury and Worthen and Clun LJC, said: "I am pleased that following the media interest in this issue other options are being found and I hope that we can find a solution in the very near future."