'Lifeline' Ludlow bus services to run without cuts

The 710 and 722 services that run between Ludlow town centre and the suburbs, including the town's park and ride, will continue to be subsidised for the foreseeable future, Shropshire councillors have said.

The move has reassured bus campaigners who feared a Shropshire-wide consultation on how people use buses in the county would lead to more cuts.

Vivienne Parry, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, and Andy Boddington, for Ludlow North, said they had met with council officers to seek assurances there was no threat to the service.

The service was taken up by Minsterley Motors, with subsidy from Shropshire Council in 2014, when R&B Travel, which had run the service, abruptly filed to pull out.

Councillor Parry said: "The buses are safe, probably for the next two years. They are very happy with Minsterley Motors. The only changes will be they are going to look at how the two services follow each other around the town.

"I think one is likely to be leaving 15 minutes later so they are more spread out." Peter Gilbert, of campaign group Bus Users Shropshire, said: "Bus Users Shropshire have welcomed the announcement but expressed some concern for services in the north of the county.

"We know bus services represent a lifeline for many people, in rural areas particularly, and it really is vital people can continue to make all kinds of journeys that are essential to them.

"It really would be unacceptable to withdraw services or to replace them with travel clubs that require booking ahead."

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation, has previously said the authority's current bus strategy consultation was looking at the wider picture of bus use, rather than "with any intent to amend the present network".

He said if there was a need to make cuts to services in the future there would be a separate consultation at the time. In Ludlow, Councillor Boddington said: "The good news is both the 701 and the 722 will continue to be subsidised by Shropshire Council for the time being. I reckon that's for a year at least."

"This is a vital service in a town that has an ageing population and nearly 250 people registered with dementia.

"One in four households in our town don't own a car. Only a quarter of homes have two or more cars. That makes buses vital to the functioning of our community, providing people with access to shops, medical facilities and social life.

"If we trap people in their homes, their wellbeing will suffer. People will be lonely, health and social care costs will rise," he added.