Shropshire Star

Bridgnorth park-and-ride pilot hailed a triumph

A pilot park-and-ride scheme that saw its final passengers board over the weekend has been hailed a huge success and may return as soon as Christmas.

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The scheme was launched in Bridgnorth over the Easter Bank Holiday and has transported nearly 3,500 passengers during the 22 weeks it has been operating.

The park-and-ride was set up by Bridgnorth Chamber of Commerce to help alleviate parking problems for visitors trying to access the busy town centre.

Buses ran every half hour from the livestock market in Tasley to the bus stop outside Sainsbury's on Saturdays.

Chamber member Deanna Deighton said: "The project has been sponsored by businesses in the town and the journey has remained free.

"The chamber hopes to continue the scheme next year and maybe to arrange two weeks at Christmas, depending on funding. We'd like to thank all our sponsors and Nock Deighton for letting us use the auction yard free of charge."

The scheme was only supposed to remain free for the first few weeks but business leaders had been so impressed with the service they continued to sponsor it.

A charge of £2 could be introduced once the scheme restarts in the spring unless further sponsorship comes forward.

The bus has averaged more than 200 users every Saturday and each company that supported the scheme saw their business promoted.

The pilot scheme was given £2,000 by Shropshire Council to help it get off the ground when the authority agreed to fund signs and A-boards to direct drivers to the scheme.

The idea for a park-and-ride had originally been put forward last year but had to be scrapped after Shropshire Council decided not to fund the £20,000 project.

The authority said it could use grant money towards a bus but not to pay a driver.

  • Companies interested in sponsoring the scheme next year can contact the chamber through the website, www.bridgnorthcofc.co.uk

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