An Oswestry bus driver claims the town can not cope with the volume of traffic pouring in from the major trunk roads and has called for a park-and-ride scheme to be introduced.

Peter Whittall, of Weston Rhyn, a bus driver for Arriva, said drivers face daily battles in the town centre, particularly with motorists parking in designated bus stops.

He said: “I don’t think the town can cope with the amount of traffic coming into it. A park-and-ride scheme would cut the traffic problems by half.

“One Friday lunchtime it took me 25 minutes just to get across town, from the bus station to Willow Street.”

He added: “The worst problem is people parking in the bus stops. It is getting more and more difficult to off load and pick up the elderly and the disabled. They have to walk into the road and we hold the traffic up as well.

“Willow Street is the worst. People going to the chip shop or post office park in the bus stops with no regard whatsoever for the passengers on the buses.

“As bus drivers we can’t do our job properly because of it.”

Inspector Jim Stafford, of Oswestry police, has warned motorists they face a fixed penalty of £30 if found to be parking in bus stops, taxi ranks or loading bays.

Gareth Proffitt, for Shropshire County Council, said: “We currently have no plans to introduce a park and ride scheme in Oswestry. However, over the next three to four years, under our Local Transport Plan, we will investigate the potential for park and ride services in Oswestry.”