Call for answers over Ludlow bus service 'debacle'
A peer in the House of Lords has written to the region's traffic commissioner to demand answers over the bus service "debacle" in a town in Shropshire.
Lord Bradshaw, Lib Dem spokesman for transport, has penned the letter after being informed of the problems in Ludlow by Shropshire councillor Heather Kidd.
Last week Shropshire Council bosses stepped in to keep the town centre and park and ride buses running after commercial operators R & B Travel pulled out of the running.
Residents in Ludlow had bombarded the traffic commissioner's office with complaints about the R & B Service, claiming buses either ran late, did not turn up at all or were full all the time.
But Shropshire Council has also come under fire from people who claim chiefs did not act until the last minute to replace the service, causing worry among pensioners that there would be no buses running at all.
Councillor Kidd, who represents Chirbury and Worthen, said: "The traffic commissioner for the West Midlands publishes regularly bus routes for which notices to cease running a service have been given.
"A bus operator must give 56 days' notice. Why, then, did this mess happen in Ludlow?
"Shropshire Council should not have been taken unaware.
"It appears that the administration had taken their eye off the ball and caused an unnecessary crisis.
"It will be interesting to see what response he receives."
Ludlow bus campaigner Andy Boddington said: "Elderly people in Ludlow have been worried sick for weeks that they would lose their bus service and not be able to get to the shops, the doctors or their friends.
"The council should have been reassuring residents that it would have contingency plans for a replacement in place."
The news comes after more than 100 people attended a public meeting held in the town on Saturday to discuss the bus service.
Councillor Peter Adams, Shropshire Council's deputy portfolio holder for transport, claimed the authority had moved "swiftly" to secure an emergency replacement bus service for routes 701 and 722.
Both are now being run on an half hourly basis with two new low entry buses operated by Minsterley Motors.
He also confirmed that the routes, timetable and stops were being reviewed by the operator and would take into account suggestions made by local users.
The service was temporary, he said, and would eventually be put out to tender, but people could again make their views known when that happened.
