Petition calls for park and ride closure rethink

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition calling for a park and ride site to remain open.

Shropshire Council said last month its Meole Brace site would close in November to allow funds to be spent on other bus routes in the county.

But the Labour group at the authority said the move would "further isolate residents to the south of the town" and "adversely affect elderly residents and people travelling into our town".

The Liberal Democrat-led council is seeking ways to cut costs after accepting an exceptional financial support package from the government in February.

It has also announced the withdrawal of the Ludlow Park and Ride, situated on the Eco Business Park off the A49, plus changes to a number of bus services.

The council 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.

But it said Shrewsbury's other two park and ride sites, at Oxon and Harlescott, would 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 online petition, started by Christine Hart, who has stood as a Labour candidate in local elections, said the decision to close the Meole Brace side would create "undue hardship" for people living in the southern part of Shrewsbury.

It also said it would add to the town's congestion issues and deter visitors.

The park and ride site was "more than just a convenience; it is a necessity for those who rely on it to access local amenities, work, and community activities," the petition said.

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