Shropshire Wheelers group in talks to take over bus routes

Talks were today being held that could see a community transport group take on more bus routes across the north of the Shropshire.

Published Jul 19, 2016

Representatives of North Salop Wheelers were holding discussions with Telford & Wrekin Council officials just days after the charity stepped in to help run a service previously operated by crisis-hit GHA Coaches.

The Wheelers ran a bus service in Whitchurch town centre on Friday after GHA Coaches went into administration on Wednesday, putting more than 300 jobs at risk.

John Harrison from North Salop Wheelers said most of the GHA routes had now been snapped up by other companies, but said his charity was still interested in running other bus services in the area.

One of the routes is the 341/342 service from Market Drayton to Telford that provides people with a link to the Princess Royal Hospital. Telford & Wrekin Council announced earlier this year it would be withdrawing funding for the service to make savings.

Mr Harrison said: "We are currently in talks about increasing what services we run in north Shropshire. We are going to a meeting today, which should be the last piece in the jigsaw.

"We did step in to help residents in Whitchurch on Friday and briefly took the service on. We were happy to help and managed it with a nine-seater but the service was very busy and has now been taken on by a new company."

Meanwhile, Wrexham bus firm D Jones and Son has hired six redundant GHA Coaches drivers and taken on three routes lost following the company's collapse.

D Jones and Son will operate three services, which includes vital transport to Wrexham Industrial Estate.

GHA Coaches, which employed 320 workers, ceased trading last week after receiving a winding up petition from HMRC for a £700,000 tax bill.