Delight as bus route saved

Bus passengers are celebrating after a south Shropshire route was saved at the eleventh hour.

The route was one of three axed last month, but Councillor Nigel Hartin, chairman of the local joint committee for Bishop's Castle and the surrounding area, today said the 745 service from Pontesbury to Ludlow, via Bishop's Castle and Clun, is to be resurrected.

Minsterley Motors, of Snailbeach, near Shrewsbury, has stepped in to run the service after bus operator Horrocks Coach Travel pulled out – M&J Travel has already stepped in to run the other two.

Councillor Hartin said: "I am pleased Minsterley has come forward to take on the axed 745 route which since its removal had effectively cut off Clun from any scheduled public transport.

"This is excellent news. Only a few weeks ago it looked like we were facing meltdown in our rural bus services, but now all of the services axed by Horrocks have been saved."

The new service will run on Mondays and Fridays every week from October 2.

It was revealed earlier this month the 773 service to Newtown and the 860 Telford service had also been saved. Both services, which will be run by M&J Travel, from Newcastle, near Craven Arms, are set to resume, with the same route and timetable, albeit fortnightly, from September 8.

Previously, the three routes were commercial services operated by Lydbury North-based Horrocks, which announced at the beginning of July it couldn't make them pay.

The withdrawal meant there were no bus services from Bishop's Castle to Wellington and no services from Bishop's Castle and Clun to Newtown or Ludlow.

The move caused a public uproar as fears rose among residents over how they were going get out to do their weekly shop.

John Jones, Minsterley owner, said today: "I just don't understand why it finished. It was obviously a popular service and the people are there using it.

"We do Ludlow to Shrewsbury and Bishop's Castle to Shrewsbury anyway so we are going to give it a try.

"We already have a timetable organised. It will be running on a Monday and a Friday."

For more details, call (01743) 791208.

By Sophie Bignall