Free bus service during closure

A free bus service is being launched by Telford & Wrekin Council to help traders and residents hit by the closure of a road in the Ironbridge Gorge.

The Jackfield Connect shuttle will initially run every 30 minutes, seven days a week, in a bid to reduce the cost and inconvenience caused by work at Lloyds Head.

A stretch of road about 100 yards long is being closed on the south bank of the River Severn between the Black Swan pub and the level crossing.

It is part of the latest phase of a multi-million pound project to stop the risk of potentially catastrophic landslides in the World Heritage Site.

The scheme will also see the car park of the Black Swan transformed into a picnic area.

Councillor Eric Carter, cabinet member for regeneration and chairman of the Ironbridge Gorge Task Force, said £20,000 had been earmarked for Jackfield Connect.

“The service originally ran from August to November last year when Lloyds Head was closed to traffic for previous work and was well received,” he said.

“We will have to close the road again from tomorrow to the end of October and have decided to bring back Jackfield Connect.

“The work will cause disruption so this is a way of keeping businesses moving and looking after local jobs.”