Shropshire Star

More than 600 people sign Telford to Wolverhampton bus service petition

A new bus service is being rerouted to include Albrighton where residents were concerned they would be “cut off from the outside world”.

Published

Arriva's number 10 bus service runs between Telford to Wolverhampton but currently bypasses the village, sparking concerns from the community.

A petition was launched by Albrighton resident and bus user Margaret Brookes as she felt herself and other non-drivers would be “cut off from the outside world”.

There is currently a Banga bus service that runs through Albrighton but the 64-year-old said it is “very limited.”

The petition has now gathered more than 600 signatures and Arriva today announced that its number 10 bus service will start serving Albrighton from September 2.

Jamie Crowsley, general manager for Shropshire at Arriva Midlands, said: "At Arriva we constantly monitor our routes to ensure that we are providing the best possible service to our passengers and when we make changes we review them to check on the impact they have and to identify where improvements can be made.

"Following a local review of our network back in July we identified Albrighton as a logical next step in expanding service 10, giving a great link between Telford, Stafford Park, Shifnal, Albrighton, Perton and Wolverhampton.

"As a result, service 10 will serve Albrighton from September 2, six days per week.

"We always like to hear from our passengers and it is great to receive feedback from local residents and potential customers that the service Arriva can deliver has been missed and is in demand.

"I am positive that through working together with Albrighton Parish Council and our passengers we can take service 10 from strength to strength."

Peter Woodman, chairman of Albrighton Parish Council, had written to Kevin O'Connor, managing director of Arriva, to express the authority's concerns.

In the letter, Mr Woodman said: "One of our village residents Mrs Brookes has organised a petition aimed at improving the bus service to and from Albrighton and this petition has been signed by over 600 residents and bus users."

He said petitioners have argued that the current Banga Travel service is "totally inadequate" and buses should run every 30 minutes during daytime hours.

He said people were also calling for an evening service and a service on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and bank holidays.

The letter continued: "Mrs Brookes has also established that your No 10 bus service has been extended from Perton through Shifnal to Telford but it bypasses Albrighton – even though it travels along the A464 road which is less than half a mile from the A41 road which passes through Albrighton.

"Whilst not at all providing the benefits which Arriva's previous cancelled service offered, if the No 10 service were routed through Albrighton it would be an improvement to the poor Banga service provided and the non-existent service provided by Arriva."