Councillor's plea to keep vital rural Shropshire bus service
A "vital" bus service in rural Shropshire must not be lost, a councillor has said.
The 292 service linking Ludlow with smaller towns and villages in South Shropshire, such as Cleobury Mortimer and Clee Hill, is under threat as Worcestershire County Council looks to scrap all subsidised services.
As the bus route starts in Kidderminster, the service comes under Shropshire's neighbouring council, despite serving communities in the south of the county.
Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Councillor for Cleobury Mortimer, said: "It's a vital service for our community. We've been lobbying officers at Shropshire Council to speak to Worcestershire Council about how important it is.
"It's not just us, the service runs up to Ludlow and serves the Shropshire hinterlands.
"It's down to Worcestershire Council at the end of the day but we will do what we can to ensure the service remains."
A two-month public consultation on Worcestershire's subsidised bus services drew to a close on Friday.
Worcestershire County Council needs to save £30 million per year and is looking at withdrawing subsidy to all bus services, which would save £3 million.
But the move though would be likely to lead to the withdrawal of subsidised bus services, including the 292.
Approximately 80 per cent of Worcestershire's bus passenger journeys are provided commercially, with 20 per cent, including the 292 service, subsidised.
