Towns to lose Park and Ride sites

One of Shrewsbury's three Park and Ride (P&R) services is to come to end due to low passenger usage.

Shropshire Council has confirmed that its Meole Brace site, located to the south of the town, will stop in November so funds can be redirected to support other bus routes in the county.

Shrewsbury's two other P&R sites, at Oxon and Harlescott, are to be improved, with new evening services from 18:00 to 22:00, as well as enhanced facilities, such as shelters and real-time information screens.

The local authority has also announced the withdrawal of the Ludlow Park and Ride, situated on the Eco Business Park off the A49.

Shropshire Council has blamed increased financial pressures for the reduction in P&R services, following the renegotiation of 21 county-wide routes with private operators that were due to expire this year.

It said delivering the same level of service - at an additional cost of £521,000 a year - was unsustainable due to a reduction in government transport funding.

Almost all of the 60-70 bus routes in Shropshire rely on private sector subsidies to operate.

Here is a list of some of the changes:

• 508: A new service is being introduced to link Wem and Ellesmere. The route will replace the 201 and 208 town centre buses, which are being withdrawn.
• Ludlow Park and Ride: The service is to end in September. The town's 702 timetable has been revised and will stop at the P&R site on all journeys.
• 2: Shrewsbury to Ditherington via Castlefields is being withdrawn due to low usage. Shropshire Council's Connect On-Demand service is being extended to the affected area.
• 12: Shrewsbury service to Shelton, via Porthill and Radbrook, is being withdrawn. The council has said other services are available within 150m.
• Meole Brace Park and Ride: The site is to close in November. Town centre visitors are being encouraged to use the remaining two P&R services, at Harlescott and Oxon.
• 26: Shrewsbury to Meole village service is to benefit from new buses, although its frequency is being reduced from 30 minutes to 45 due to costs.
• Other services, such as the 301 in Market Drayton and the number 20 in Shrewsbury are being retained like-for-like.

The news marks the latest in savings measures brought in by Shropshire Council, after announcing the closure of a day care centre in Ludlow last week.

Despite putting up council tax by 9%, the local authority is having to borrow from government to plug a funding gap.

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