Bus is best but needs promotion

It is with sadness but no surprise that I read of the likely demise of two bus services between Shrewsbury and Bishop's Castle.

I do not argue with the nonsense of subsidising buses carrying no passengers but believe the lack of use is due to the bus company and council completely failing to market public transport as an effective alternative to the car.

If I drive from Bishop's Castle to Shrewsbury return it costs me £16.80 (42 miles at 0.40 a mile) plus car parking or park and ride charges.

As a pensioner the bus fare is £1.90 return and after April the trip will be completely free.

Therefore, if you use the bus once a week over a year after April that is a saving of £873.60.

Even taking into account just petrol and assuming 42 miles to a gallon that is a saving of over £200 including parking.

The bus journey is only slightly longer than the car journey when you take into account the time taken to find a car park with a place available and walk into the centre of town.

The bus journey is a social event and as you sit so much higher than in a car you can enjoy the countryside in a way you cannot in a car, especially if you are driving. You can even use a phone in the bus!

The bus takes you to the hospital and collects you from there again with no parking fee.

I would argue that the problem is the lack of frequency.

If the bus was hourly or even half hourly with serious promotion of its advantages I would argue this would increase public usage enormously.

Bill Hendley, Bishop's Castle