Fears for future of North Salop Wheelers
Tuesday 9th November 2010, 9:42AM GMT.
Massive spending cuts look set to hit a community bus service serving rural north Shropshire, bosses have revealed.
North Salop Wheelers was set up seven years ago to provide community transport in the area between Wem and Whitchurch.
But now bosses say services could be affected under Government plans to cut Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), previously known as the Fuel Duty Rebate (FDR), which refunds bus operators for the fuel duty they pay in running local registered bus services.
Fears have been raised it could tip buses into a spiral of decline with fare rises, falling patronage and service cuts.
Company secretary Phoebe Ashton said: “We have been told about plans to cut the fuel duty rebate which is very concerning and could mean it will affect some services. A company like ours relies on this type of funding and it will be a real blow.”
It has not all been bad news for the company which has received two lots of funding to improve services.
The Co-operative Membership Community Fund has awarded the company £1,950 to train someone to become a bus driver.
It has also received £750 from the Community Council of Shropshire to fund a monthly service to Market Drayton on market days.
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