Bus service to be lost

The 449 bus which runs between Oswestry and Ellesmere will cease on September 3 after the operator, Tanat Valley Coaches lost out on a contract connected with the service.

Bus users say the alternative, Arriva service between the two towns takes longer and say the fares are more expensive.

Nick Culliford for Tanat Valley Coaches said it had been a disappointing but neccessary decision to close down the 449 service.

"It was originally run by the old Crossville company," he said.

"We at Tanat Valley have been operating the service without any subsidy on the back of another Shropshire contract."

He explained that the bus that was used was one that did the school bus service tender for the Trefonen area.

"Between 9am and 3pm we could use it for the 449 route. However, when the school service was re-tendered it went to Arriva - that's simply competition and we live with that," he said.

"However, without that subsidised school service, the 449 route is not financially viable. We do not have enough people using the service sadly.

"There is competiton from the 53 service which also connects Oswestry and Ellesmere and the 70 bus which goes between Whittington and Oswestry."

Mr Culliford said that one of the problems that bus companies had was the payment given for concessionary fares and people who use the buses with a bus pass.

"Each time that a person with a bus pass, for example pensioners, travel on the bus, we get 86p."

"It is simply not viable to keep the 449 service going. The cost of operating it is greater than we get in revenue, unfortunately we had to call it a day."

He said that keeping rural bus services going without subsidies was increasingly difficult.

"Buses are used far more in cities. If you miss a bus in London, you know the next one will be along in 10 minutes. That is simply not the case in rural areas and people, even those with bus passes, will often opt to drive into town instead of going on the bus."

News of the service going has been met with disappointment in Ellesmere.

On the town's community facebook page more than 100 people expressed disappointment.

Tammy Hazell wrote: "It is a very popular route. Tanat valley has a better route, cheaper fares and better service. Ellesmere has very limited transport links as it is without this one ending too."