Bid to cut Shropshire bus services sparks fury

They have called for a rethink, saying residents in rural areas of the county will be most affected by the proposed changes.

Shropshire Council has announced it will slash services in a bid to save more than £400,000 per year.

But councillors claim the first they knew of a public consultation on the matter was when it opened on Monday.

Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow East, said: “I am appalled by this. We councillors have had no notice of the details.

"The first we knew about it was when the council launched its consultation.”

'Increased isolation'

One of the proposed changes is to the 701 Ludlow bus which will be reduced from every 30 minutes to every 45 minutes.

Councillor Huffer said: “The Ludlow 701 town service is vitally important to our town. It allows a lot of people who are vulnerable or on low incomes to get to town centre services.

"They can go to the shops and GP surgeries. Many people also hop on a bus to see their friends.

“If the frequency of service is reduced, people will be less willing to use the buses.

"People will drive in, only to find there is nowhere to park. Others will not travel at all. That will increase their isolation.

“This is a busy bus route and I don’t know why Shropshire Council has singled it out for cuts. And how long before they reduce the service to hourly?”

Fare increase

Fares are set to rise on Shrewsbury’s Park & Ride service, with concessions removed and group tickets cut.

This has led to concerns that there will be no inclination on behalf of Shropshire Council to improve Ludlow’s Park & Ride service.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, said: “This consultation shows that Shropshire Council has abandoned any ambitions for sustainable transport.

"It admits that passenger numbers on Shrewsbury Park & Ride buses have halved. There cannot be another park and ride service in the country that has performed as dismally as Shrewsbury’s.

“In Ludlow the only way we can increase footfall in the town centre is by improving our second-class Park & Ride service. But if Shropshire Council has already given up on Shrewsbury Park & Ride, what hope is there for Ludlow having a first-class service?

“Buses should not be seen as a drain on council finances. They are a benefit to the wellbeing of people in Shropshire and promoting wellbeing is surely the most important job for the council.”