Market Drayton dial-a-ride bus at risk from proposed cuts

The Border Car, which covers runs between Newcastle-under-Lyme and Market Drayton, could be cut by Staffordshire County Council as part of plans to slash its bus subsidy pot to £1.3 million next year.

The council is launching a public consultation on how the subsidy pot can be best spent, with four options on the table.

Under the preferred option, the council would continue to subsidise the greatest number of services – but with all the dial-a-ride services being axed. Residents say the Border Car service is regularly used by people in Loggerheads, Ashley and Market Drayton.

Carol Webb said: “I have used the Border Car from Loggerheads to Eccleshall for a year in the past. There is no bus service so the Border Car was essential.”

“Various people were picked up regularly from rural places on the way to Eccleshall and taken back again. This is an essential service.”

Beverly Smith added: “Our Border Car service is at risk of being withdrawn due to Staffordshire Council making cuts.

“This is a vital service for many. We want to hold onto this service because it’s a lot more than just transport as you all may know.”

But Mark Deaville, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “All bus journeys in Staffordshire are operated by private bus companies or voluntary and community groups – and 90 per cent of these are made without any subsidy.

“However, some people might be surprised to hear that we do still subsidise some journeys on buses by much as £10 per passenger trip because they can’t be run on a commercial basis.

“As a county council we have to balance how much of taxpayers’ money we can afford to spend on subsiding travel against the need to protect the funding of statutory services. This year we will need to spend a record £300m on care alone.Some authorities have stopped subsidising buses, but in Staffordshire £1.3m will still be spent on this next year. The public consultation is the chance for people to have their say on subsidised bus travel and how the budget we have available for next year can be best spent.”

The consultation ends September 11. People will be able to have their say on the county council website, or find out more at their local library.

The final option will be agreed by cabinet in the autumn, with the changes being implemented in April 2018.