Local Bus Service Threatened


The Shropshire Star has today (30/1/6) published a report on its website claiming that a cut in finding from Telford & Wrekin Council may result in changes to a bus service which runs through Hodnet.
Telford & Wrekin Council have recently signed a new contract for bus services with Arriva, but will pay them 30% less than at present. Whilst many services are expected to continue much the same, the Council acknowledges that the changes could have an impact on two services further down the line. The report continues:

One – the 341/342 cross-border route to Market Drayton – is used by people living in rural areas on the outskirts of Telford to get to the Princess Royal Hospital and into Wellington.
Telford & Wrekin is withdrawing its funding for the service.
Council bosses said the service was contracted by Shropshire Council and any final decision on the future of the service would be up to them.
Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for transport at Telford & Wrekin Council, said bosses would continue to liaise with their counterparts in Shropshire on how the impact on the potential removal of the 341/342 service could be minimised.
She said: “The council is currently looking at options for providing an alternative community transport service for residents in the borough to ensure that access is maintained to Princess Royal Hospital and Wellington from the rural areas currently served by the 341/342.”

The 341 service runs between Wellington and Market Drayton via Great Bolas and Childs Ercall. It is the 342 which passes through Peplow and Hodnet on a different route between Wellington and Market Drayton. Both services serve Stoke on Tern, Stoke Heath and Tern Hill.
Update 10 Feb – Shropshire Star: Shropshire bus cuts are ‘bad news’, say passengers