Welcome planned for returning Shropshire buses
The first users of a reinstated bus service between two towns will get a warm welcome when it is launched next week.
On Monday two new daily buses will be running between Hereford and Ludlow – and campaigners will be celebrating when the first one arrives at Ludlow Assembly Rooms in the town centre at 10.15am.
The 492 service was drastically cut back last August, despite a petition by campaigners who said it was lifeline for villagers in Overton, Batchcott and Richards Castle between the two larger towns.
Renamed the 490, the cut back bus service began to stop at Orleton on the south Shropshire border, just five miles short of Ludlow – and turn back to Hereford, snubbing the people of Shropshire. The only buses to continue all the way to Ludlow were an early morning and afternoon school-run bus which did not during school holidays.
But last month Herefordshire Council agreed to fund two extra weekday services a day in each direction on a trial basis after a long campaign by Bus Users Shropshire, Rail For Herefordshire and local councillors.
Bus Users Shropshire chair Peter Gilbert said everyone would be welcome at the celebration on Monday, whether or not they had just stepped off the bus.
He said: "When most of the inter-urban services from Leominster to Ludlow were discontinued at the county border last year more than 100 people petitioned Shropshire Council asking them to step in to save the short Shropshire section of the route.
"Shropshire Council didn't budge and we are grateful that Herefordshire Council have found ways to access the Rural Transport Fund to enable these services to happen.
"South Shropshire people and businesses will benefit enormously from the new buses from Herefordshire which run at times very convenient to shoppers. Our welcome event will focus on how we can keep these buses running with local people championing the service in their area."
Vivienne Parry, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, who was involved in the campaigning, said the service was essential for older people to go shopping, go to the doctors or Hereford County Hospital.
The new services will run Mondays to Fridays until March 2016.
