Don't axe 'essential' Sunday bus services, plea customers

As Shropshire Council moves to axe six routes in Shrewsbury on Sundays at the end of the month, those who use the services said they were "disgusted and disappointed".

Shrewsbury Bus Station may not have been bustling yesterday, but passengers there said the Sunday services were a lifeline to those who did use them. Terrance Evans, 80, a retired hospital admin worker, was catching the soon-to-be axed number 27 Bayston Hill service to get back to his home in Belle Vue. He said: "

There are people who get it to go to the hospital to visit. There might only be half a dozen people on the bus but they need it."

Avril Saunders, 75, who lives in Crowmere Road, Shrewsbury, agreed.

She said she thought it was "disgusting" that whole routes were being cut.

"Why don't they cut them down to hourly or perhaps make some weekday services less frequent to help keep the Sunday ones running?

"I use the buses to get to the hospital and to the church in Oxon. It can be very expensive to pay each way to get a taxi, and it's even more on a Sunday.

"People do rely on them. I came in on the 9.30am bus and there were 14 people on that so it's not as if they're not in use."

John Page, 43, a former nurse, said he split his time between London and living with his partner in Copthorne, and was making his way back there from the Railway Station on the number 1 Gains Park bus.

While that route is not under threat this time, it was one of those cut in 2011 and reinstated again in 2013, so he said he was aware of the effect the loss of such services could have.

"It was the best thing the council did when they re-introduced the Sunday buses," he said.

"It made a real difference to the town on a Sunday because people are able to get in.

"I'd say I use it every other Sunday, usually twice. Even though it's not a frequent service it is very useful and it would be sorely missed if it went.

"I hope with a bit of pressure they'll be forced to keep the Sunday services, it would be a shame to see them go."

Max Blizzard, 32, a warehouse worker from Sundorne, was going to see his father in Monkmoor.

He said for people like him who were diabetic, buses were good to have as he could suddenly get very tired if his blood sugar dropped.

"If I walk up town and start to feel tired I will get the bus. If there wasn't a bus I'd just have to not go and see my dad.

"It's disappointing they want to cut services. It's not good, there is still a need for them," he said.

The routes to be scrapped include the number 1 from Gains Park to Telford Estate, the 8A from Shrewsbury to Shrewsbury Business Park, the 20 from Shrewsbury to Radbrook Green, the 24 Shrewsbury to Harlescott Tesco (via Moston Road), the 25 from Shrewsbury to Harlescott Tesco (via Sultan Road), and the 27 to Bayston Hill.