Newsletter 15

Spring 2016

tents…. Chair’s Message…. Con

BUS Meeting Notes - pages 2-4 Hi everyone and welcome to our new format Newsletter. Fab isn’t it! And all down to the work of Summary of the Executive Committee meetings our vice-chair Keith Gallop. held since the last newsletter Three of our members rang in to Radio ’s Public Meeting Report - page 5 Jim Hawkins show to put points to Council Leader attracts large numbers Malcolm Pate and his chief executive. It’s a reminder that, especially when Council funds are tight, it’s Media Monitor - pages 6-10 more important than ever that each bus user argues the case for buses. “Councillor condemns park and ride chaos” “Bus users release map of routes” This means taking every opportunity to tell your “Bus stop blues” Shropshire councillor, the shopkeepers you buy “A minibus makes sense” from, your neighbours, how much your bus service “Village fears as bus lifeline is taken away” means to you and how much it supports local “Bus cuts on par with Beeching Axe” businesses. “Bus service facing the axe once again” Bus services are a key that give access to life. “Campaigners’ fears over rural bus routes” Nothing can be so ‘unequalising’ as lack of access to “Passengers fear bus service axe” work, shop, meet, or to attend appointments. “Councillor’s plea over park and ride” Effective public transport unlocks all these things. “Changes to buses are here to stay” is still working on their Bus Bus News - pages 11-15 Strategy 2016-21. We hope it will be published for End of the road for Arriva’s Scania buses consultation very soon, and we have invited Motors get new buses Shropshire Council’s chief public transport officer to our Annual General Meeting to talk about it. I look Bus map for Shropshire forward to seeing you on 16 th April. Best wishes. How road closures affect bus services Bus services under threat from budget cuts Peter Gilbert, Chair of Bus Users Shropshire A rural bus solution? town service Threat to bus service in Devolution for bus services? Annual General Meeting

Bus Users UK - page 15 Saturday 16 April New Chair for Bus Users UK 10.30am for 10.45am start Local groups meeting Hobbs Room, Library Services Changes - page 16 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury 8/8A Town Centre - Wolverhampton 74 - Shrewsbury X92 - Telford Town Centre Contact us 101 Bridgnorth Town Service c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 436 Shrewsbury - Bridgnorth 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE Shrewsbury - Circular ( 07580 564458 * [email protected] www.bususers.org/your-local-group/bus-users-shropshire

BUS Meeting Notes

There is a Members’ meeting twice a through) so the concession is only year, one of which is the AGM where valid to the end of the first bus route Members are elected to the Executive in . Committee. The Executive Committee meets every Finance and Membership two months to deal with the main BUS has £64.85 at the bank and business of BUS. All Members are welcome to £47.07 in cash. Having consulted the membership attend meetings of the Executive Committee as at the autumn Members’ Meeting, where concern observers. About half of the meetings of the was expressed about a new rate of £10, it was Executive Committee take place at the Premier Inn agreed that the rate will be £9.50 for members. The close to Shrewsbury’s bus and train stations, with new rate will help ensure BUS can continue to hold the remainder at other towns within Shropshire. public meetings in different towns around the county. We also aim to organise some Public meetings to give Shropshire people the chance to make their Bridgnorth Your Bus Matters event views known and to receive immediate responses Three members attended and it was reported that from bus operators and/or Shropshire Council. In many people attended in the morning. Most people 2014 Public meetings have been held in Bridgnorth, were concerned with the 436 route, but Arriva was Bishops Castle and in , in 2015 in the only operator present. The main points raised Whitchurch and , and in 2016 so far were: in Ludlow (see page 5). • Poor reliability due to late running • Rude drivers This is a summary of the Executive Committee • Lack of timetable information (timetable can be meetings held since the last newsletter . obtained from the library at a charge) ______• Drivers will not let pass holders on to town service if they want to travel to Shrewsbury Executive Committee 18 December 2015 (people want to save standing in rain) • Confusion due to both Shrewsbury service and Six members attended plus one as observer. town service carrying same number • Confusion due to non-GHA liveried vehicles (e.g. Matters arising one has Connect88 branding for Altrincham – • Copyright. We still have to write to North Knutsford service). Newspapers, Newsquest, and Ludlow Ledger Concerns were raised about the way BUS was • Shropshire Bus Strategy. This had not yet been sidelined by Bus Users UK in organising the event, published for consultation whose date and arrangements were only made • Public liability. We will suggest to Bus Users UK known some twelve days beforehand. It was also that group membership should include an element for public liability insurance (possibly as an extra annual fee) Forthcoming Meetings

436 Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury. We wrote to GHA • Annual General Meeting on 20 November about driver behaviour but have Hobbs Room, Shrewsbury Library, Castle Gates, not received a reply. It was agreed to email GHA Shrewsbury on Saturday 16 April at 10.45am. as this is a matter of concern to members. • Concession fares in Wales. Joan reported that Executive Committee the apparent change in validity only applied on Meetings open to all Members as observers the Oswestry – Welshpool – Newtown service. Keith explained that it is now registered as two Premier Inn, Smithfield Road, Shrewsbury on separate routes (although the bus travels Tuesday 24 May at 10am.

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BUS Meeting Notes noted that BUS had not been provided with an joint working towards a low carbon future. extract of passengers’ concerns, nor of any follow up from previous Your Bus Matters events. It was BUS public meeting in Ludlow agreed that there was an important learning point It was agreed that we should hold our public for Bus Users UK about working with its key meeting with route 490 as one of the issues to be partners, and that we should write to their Director discussed with the public. It should be held at the of . Assembly Rooms on a Monday (market day) or Friday in early February (subsequently 1st February Route 436 at 1045 was booked). It was noted that the GHA service in Bridgnorth is of low quality. Drivers are reportedly turning away Any Other Business passengers in High St telling them to walk to • It was reported that Shropshire Council has Sainsbury. The 436 is often late (as noted in declined to provide any funds for the 490 November), and on 18 December the 1118 arrived • Shropshire is the only county with no Christmas at Shrewsbury at 1141. It was agreed to compile buses for four days, so it was agreed to do a evidence so that we can email GHA and Shropshire media release if there is time Council. It was reported that an Arriva driver had • It was reported that there had been several suggested the 9 service should call at Sydney breakdowns on route 738/740 Knighton-Ludlow Cottage so we agreed to email Arriva Telford to with an inadequate response from the drivers; make the suggestion. some passengers have taken action and a user group may form. Secret services report and bus map • Ludlow Agenda 21 have requested a meeting Peter was commended on the excellent report with BUS – we will suggest they attend the public which had also resulted in a lengthy and positive meeting on 1 st February interview on Radio Shropshire. The map was also • It was reported that timetables at the two stops commended as a very useful tool. It was suggested near Sainsbury, Oswestry have the wrong that the head of tourism, Tim King, might be able to timetables on display (local services are at the help in distributing copies to information centres country stop, country services at the local stop, etc. We will issue a media release, and send copies and the stops are 100m apart) to bus operators and Shropshire Council for libraries • Confusion was reported on route 449 Oswestry and other venues. to Ellesmere via Whittington, as daytime commercial services by Tanat Valley leave from Bus service changes Lidl (not bus station) but early and late services A discussion took place about the lack of advance contracted to Arriva leave from the bus station information on service changes. At the Shropshire • In response to a question it was decided not to Bus Strategy meeting with Shropshire Council this print the Secret Services report due to cost issue was raised, and they agreed in principle to let ______us have that information. Since then we have heard nothing so it was agreed that we should ask the Executive Committee 1 February 2016 relevant officer to start the flow of information.

Six members attended plus one as observer, and an World Climate Change Agreement invited guest for the first item. Peter reminded the committee of the historic agreement between all countries of the world and Working with Ludlow 21 questioned what BUS might do to encourage a shift Denise reported that Ludlow 21 has a Transport to lower carbon travel such as use of buses. A Group and that 28% of Ludlow people do not own a discussion of the committee took place and it was car. As well as noting the need for a shelter in Corve agreed that BUS should approach the Green Street she suggested shelters are needed in Shropshire Exchange to offer BUS support for any

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BUS Meeting Notes

Rockspring and Bromfield Road. Shelters can be Monthly bus service changes attractive items of street furniture. She reported Keith met with Andy Evans who that Ludlow Town Council are hoping to acquire car agreed to pass him details each parks income, and it was noted that buses generate month of forthcoming changes. income for town centre businesses. The future of We were shown a layout for a the 490 service was discussed and it was agreed to monthly publication of changes send a letter to Shropshire Councillors, to Denise, which he will compile starting with and to Ludlow Town Council. March. They will be emailed to all members and supporters initially, Public meeting in Ludlow and subsequently distributed more widely. 60 people attended including two councillors (Cllrs Stone and Bowen), three Bus route map Shropshire councillors (Cllrs Boddington, Parry, The A4 version has been sent to the printers, and Shineton), and one Ludlow Town Councillor (Cllr copies will be provided to the Travel shop at Perks). The and Radio Shropshire and via the council to had been present. Cash donations of £30.75 were libraries and TICs. An A3 copy will be produced for made by members of the public. public display at the Travel shop.

Matters arising from last meeting AGM • Copyright. The Chair will write to North Wales It was agreed to invite the Bus Users UK Director Newspapers, Newsquest, and Ludlow Ledger England as guest speaker. • Shropshire Bus Strategy. This has not yet been published for consultation. Any Other Business • 436 service. GHA has not replied to email, but James Willocks and Andy Evans are willing to attend Andy Evans of Shropshire Council said he would a BUS meeting. Matt Johnson has said he’s happy to raise the issue with GHA. Evidence of late brief committee members about the bus strategy running is being compiled so that we can email consultation when it appears. GHA and Shropshire Council. ______• Diversion of service 9 via Sydney Cottage estate Continued from page 5 in Bridgnorth. Arriva Telford have said that there is not time in the schedule to accommodate this opposite the stop thought it was inhumane not to addition to the route. put a shelter there with the numbers of people • Secret Services report. The Chair will follow up waiting for buses. Bus shelters do not have to be with Arriva in Shrewsbury and Telford an eyesore, they can be a thing of beauty. The town council were urged to quickly resolve the Public Transport budget cuts issue and find an acceptable site. Grave concerns were expressed about cuts to bus • There was concern about the lack of a service subsidies proposed in Shropshire Council’s draft between Ludlow and Bridgnorth since the budget for 2016/17 and indicative budgets for withdrawal of the 141 route. 2017/18 and 2018/19. It was noted that services • A number of people commented that the 435 that currently are commercially viable may not be if route to Shrewsbury was a good service and very an operator’s subsidised routes are withdrawn. The necessary. It is an essential service both Lancashire legal challenge was discussed in relation economically and for access to health services. to equality, economy, health, age and access to • Concern was expressed about the high cost of social engagement, work and young people. It was travelling from Ludlow to Hereford and return via agreed to email each Shropshire Councillor Leominster. Passengers are charged for four concerning the budget and also Cllr Simon Jones separate journeys totalling £12 even though the about unintended consequences of cuts. A media bus on each service continues through. release will be issued. ______

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Public Meeting Report

Ludlow attracts large numbers coming into town with about 100 people on them. It has been calculated that each user Introduction taking a bus journey into a centre Almost 60 people packed the Assembly Rooms in from elsewhere spent on average about £38 each Ludlow on 1st February for the latest Public Meeting in goods and services, so buses are bringing called by Bus Users Shropshire. It was the fifth in a thousands of pounds into Ludlow. Ludlow series of meetings held in towns around Shropshire market traders have noticed a drop in business to collect the views of users and residents on the when bus services have been cut. Some people state of bus services in the local area. As well as five who plan to stay near Ludlow decide to go members of the BUS committee, the meeting was elsewhere because of a lack of bus services. also attended by Shropshire Councillors Andy • The loss of buses has contributed to illness in Boddington, Vivienne Parry and Madge Shineton, outlying villages as elderly residents cannot get Ludlow Town Councillor Graeme Perks, and out of the house or to medical services easily. Herefordshire Councillors S Bowen and J Stone. The We should be directing your energies to putting Shropshire Star and Radio Shropshire were present. transport on the health agenda, as transport and housing are the two biggest side issues to health. With an ageing population the need for buses is increasing. • The funding for four journeys on the 490 service from Leominster runs out at the end of March. Unless town and parish councils on the Shropshire side of the border can chip in to subsidise it until Herefordshire Council reviews the whole route this autumn it will be withdrawn. Leominster town council and parish councils on Background the Herefordshire side have already promised A short account of bus services in the area, including contributions to keep the service going. It is a community transport, and the reliance on local authority subsidy, was provided. The meeting was vital link both for people in outlying villages to then open to comments and questions from get into town, and also for tourists staying in anybody present. rural parts south of Ludlow. People staying at Overton caravan park want to be able to use a Views of the public bus to get to Ludlow and back. We want people The main issues raised were: to come into town to use our markets and shops. Lots of B & Bs advertise the service and it is used • Shropshire Council is looking to cut its public by tourists particularly on Saturdays. transport budget (excluding concessionary fares) Community bus services the Ludlow Traveller and by 90% to just £145,000 in 2018/2019 and among • the Buzzard are vital for people living in small the worst-hit could be routes serving towns like Ludlow. The current town services in Ludlow communities, particularly those who are were subsidised at £85,000 a year and with the disabled. The Traveller provides a good service subsidy budget for the whole of Shropshire on a Wednesday into Ludlow from the south reduced to just £145,000 these routes could only including parts of Herefordshire. expect a tiny fraction of that, if anything at all, in • The lack of a bus shelter at the stop in Corve the coming years. Bus services are important to Street, which is used as the terminal point for Ludlow as 28% of households have no car services 2L to Kidderminster and 435 to (compared to 18% for Shropshire as a whole). Shrewsbury as well as being served by the town services and those to Knighton and Bishops • Buses are a form of transport often overlooked in keeping town centres like Ludlow vibrant. Castle, is causing concern. A person who lives Looking at market-day passengers only, buses are continued bottom of page 4

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Media Monitor

If you see anything about buses in your local paper or other publication, please cut it out and send to Bus Users Shropshire (newsletter), c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE . If you spot something on a website please email the link to [email protected] (marked newsletter).

“Councillor condemns park and ride chaos” 6.20pm - a move criticised for its potential effect on people wishing to take part in late-night Christmas Queues and delays shopping. caused by a park and ride system that failed to keep Councillor Jones said: “When the new service began up with demand on one in November we promised users an improved and of the busiest shopping more reliable service, and I am determined that this days of the year have is what they will get. It’s important that both been described as Shropshire Council and Arriva learn lessons from “unacceptable”. Simon Saturday.” Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member of highways and transport, has responded to Shropshire Star, December 2015 complaints on social media over Shrewsbury’s park ______and ride. The service caused misery for shoppers on Saturday ( 12th December ) with more than 100 “Bus users release map of routes” people waiting at one point at the car park at Meole Brace - while the situation at Oxon was little better. A map of bus routes currently operating across Shropshire has been put together by a campaign Councillor Jones said it was “important” lessons group. Bus Users Shropshire has made the map were learned by Shropshire Council and Arriva - who which will be distributed to local libraries and tourist provide the park and ride service on behalf of the offices and bus stations, and is available to council - following the chaos. It happened on the download from the Shropshire pages of same day the Quarry Christmas Festival welcomed www.bususers.org thousands through its gates. Those who attended the event took to its Facebook page to complain Peter Gilbert of Bus Users Shropshire said: about the delays. “Shropshire is the only county we are aware of with no map available for potential bus passengers. Councillor Jones said: “It’s clear that last Saturday - Shropshire Council stopped publishing print and due to heavy traffic in and around the town centre - online maps a year ago. Route maps are vital if the Shrewsbury park and ride failed to operate in people are to use services, and we believe the way that customers and the council would Shropshire Council’s cull of bus maps was a false expect. The queues and delays that people faced economy that will have increased the need for are unacceptable. We have asked Arriva - who service subsidy.” provide the service on our behalf - to provide a full explanation for the delays that people experienced “Our map is a very basic one and not nearly as good on Saturday.” Councillor Jones said extra buses as the one that our council used to provide or that’s were laid on on Saturday but, according to Arriva, available elsewhere. We hope however that locals the congestion was so severe it made “little and visitors will find it useful as it mentions several difference”. routes which operate just a day or two a week and so are not easy to find on websites like Traveline. This follows on from changes made to the town’s The map makes it possible to explore Shropshire by park and ride in November. Although all three park bus.” and ride sites at Meole Brace, Harlescott and Oxon are retained, fewer buses run, with one arriving Shropshire Star, January 2016 every 20 minutes. Buses also stop running at Page 6

Media Monitor

“Bus stop blues” from a friend as the bus links are so bad to the rural village. Her case, and that of others in , Recently Bus Users Shropshire produced a report has been taken up by Green campaigners as an highlighting the unsatisfactory state of bus stop example of how hard public transport cuts in rural timetabling in Shropshire. I am glad the group have Shropshire can hit. drawn attention to this problem. I am tired of standing at bus stops in Shrewsbury where there are Mrs Wilkes said timetable holders without timetables. Some holders the six-day-a- have been empty for months, if not years. Perhaps week bus more people would use buses if they knew when service was they were running. replaced years ago with a Letter to Shropshire Star, January 2016 booking-ahead ______only service, which was also later scrapped. “Ditton was left with only a school service bus which “A minibus makes sense” allowed the public to travel during school terms,” she said. “But this service was put out to tender in I do not know what the running costs of Arriva’s July and will no longer allow the public to use it. buses are, but surely minibuses similar to the ex- This was our last lifeline, now removed.” Mrs Wilkes Shropshire link buses are more suitable for rural added: “I will not be able to continue in work and services. For example the 113/114 service between prospects for further employment have diminished Telford and Bridgnorth using narrow, winding entirely. Young people will no doubt be in similar country lanes is little used but essential for some. positions, not everyone gets bought a car or passes Another example is the 8A/X92 between Telford and their test aged 17.” Shifnal where sometimes I am the sole passenger on the occasional double decker bus. She said families on benefits had no way to attend job interviews, training or employment, and If the operating companies used more cost effective pensioners without their own transport could only and suitable minibuses throughout the county and get out of the village for a couple of hours a week on Telford & Wrekin, surely the cumulative savings in the remaining community bus service. “The impact running costs would go towards the right funding is huge”,” she said. “It is incomprehensible to me from central government. that Shropshire Council thinks this is acceptable.”

Letter to Shropshire Star, February 2016 Dr David Gibbon, of South Shropshire Green Party, ______said: “The scale of bus cuts in Shropshire is a tragedy and damages the lives of all those who need to use “Village fears as bus lifeline is taken away” buses. It will also force more people to buy a car when household budgets are already under severe

pressure and add to road traffic.” Simon Jones, A woman says she had to cancel cancer treatment Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways appointments after a village had its last bus lifeline and transportation, said the subsidy to public removed. Michelle Wilkes, who lives in Ditton Priors transport will need to be reduced, but claimed: “We near Bridgnorth, has written to Shropshire Council are working hard to limit the impact of this on to ask it to reconsider bus cuts. The authority has passengers by talking to our local operators and revealed its public transport budget has been partners to find alternative solutions, and slashed dramatically for the coming years. encouraging the growth of the commercial bus

network.” Mrs Wilkes, a 44-year old nursery nurse whose skin cancer is now in remission, said she had to cancel Shropshire Star, February 2016 hospital appointments when she couldn’t get a lift Page 7

Media Monitor

“Bus cuts on par with Beeching Axe” “Bus service facing the axe once again”

Rural bus services in many parts of England and A bus service which was reinstated after a campaign Wales are being wiped out due to cuts in subsidies, a is back on the chopping block as funding is set to dry report has claimed. A study by the Campaign for up next month. The 490 service linking Leominster, Better Transport found councils were reducing Ludlow and the villages in between was cut back in expenditure on buses by more than £27 million over 2014, leaving only school-run services, but a full the coming years as a result of funding from service was reinstated in the summer of 2015 after a government being slashed by £78 million since 2010. campaign by Bus Users Shropshire, Rail for It comes as Telford & Wrekin Council announced it Herefordshire and local councillors. was to cut 30 per cent - £800,000 - from the amount it spends on subsidising bus services over the next That now appears to have been a temporary two years, putting two services at risk. reprieve, as the extra buses were made possible with money from the Rural Transport Fund, a grant This week more than 50 people attended a meeting which is set to stop at the end of March. Parish and in Ludlow to discuss the impact of Shropshire town councils, including Ludlow Town Council, are Council possibly slashing the amount it pays in being urged to step in to help fund the service at subsidies by 90 per cent. The 490 service from least until a review of the whole route to Hereford Leominster, which was reinstated less than a year by Herefordshire Council in the autumn. ago after a campaign, is set to be scrapped once more in March unless town and parish councils on Vivienne Parry, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow the Shropshire side of the border can chip in to South, called on Ludlow Town Council to join villages subsidise it until such as Richard’s Castle and Orleton in pledging Herefordshire funds to keep the service running at a meeting on Council reviews the Monday evening. The problem was also discussed route this autumn at a public meeting called by Bus Users Shropshire in (service under threat Ludlow on Monday. Councillor Parry said following is two daily return that meeting she had raised the issue once more journeys headed RTF with Ludlow Town Council, though no decision has in the timetable ). been made by the authority as yet.

Martin Abrams, from the CBT, said: “Devastating She said: “We need to look at this again. The parish cuts are being inflicted on our vital bus services on a council of Richard’s Castle has pledged a subsidy of par with the swingeing cuts Dr Beeching made to £2,000, and I’m told Orleton has pledged something our rail network.” Mr Abrams said it was a “bitter similar, as well as other parishes across the border irony” that many of the bus routes being cut had in Herefordshire. “If they can do it I’m sure we can originally replaced the rail services that Dr Beeching do it as well.” She said the bus was a vital link both recommended should be ceased in the 1960s, for people in outlying villages to get into town, and leaving more areas without any public transport. also for tourists staying in rural parts south of Ludlow. A Local Government Association spokesman said councils were finding it “impossible” to make up “We want people to come into town to use our shortfalls from Whitehall funding. Transport markets and shops,” she said. She said the service minister Andrew Jones said: “The government was also essential for people from Ludlow to go to projected around £250 million of funding for bus Hereford, whether shopping or to visit Hereford services in England in last year’s spending review.” County Hospital.

Shropshire Star, February 2016 Shropshire Star, February 2016 ______

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Media Monitor

“Campaigners’ fears over rural bus routes” housing are the two biggest side issues to health.” However, Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor The slashing of bus subsidies will make many rural for Ludlow North, said the current 701 and 722 town routes unviable and under threat in coming years, centre services in Ludlow were subsidised at campaigners warned at a public meeting. Bus £85,000 a year. With the subsidy budget for the service campaigners joined councillors in Ludlow whole of Shropshire set to be slashed to just yesterday to talk about the future of rural services £145,000 by 2018, the Ludlow routes could only within the town, and those linking it to places such expect a tiny fraction of that, if anything at all, in the as Shrewsbury, Hereford and Knighton. coming years he said. He said the plan was for such services to be run purely from commercial fares and With Shropshire Council looking at slashing the income from bus passes. money available for bus subsidies by more than 90 per cent in the coming years, among the worst-hit “There isn’t going to be enough money in this could be routes serving rural towns like Ludlow. The budget if it goes ahead. This is not going to run the consequences would be serious for trade and the services we’ve got,” he said. “It really is quite health of an ageing population, those gathered at serious. In this town 28 per cent of households Ludlow Assembly Rooms heard. don’t own a car.” He said buses needed to be fought for as a “social service” in the coming Meanwhile, the 490 service from Leominster, which wrangles over how dwindling money available was reinstated less than a year ago after a public should be spent by local authorities. campaign, is set to be scrapped once more in March unless town and parish councils on the Shropshire Shropshire Star, February 2016 side of the border can chip in to subsidise it until ______Herefordshire Council reviews the route this autumn (service under threat is two daily return journeys “Passengers fear bus service axe” headed RTF in the timetable ). Cuts to a bus service that helps connect rural About 50 people attended the meeting called by Bus communities with the rest of the county is “bad Users Shropshire. Les Lumsden, speaking for local news”, a bus user has said. Telford & Wrekin campaign group Save Our Buses, urged users to set Council is withdrawing its funding for the 341/342 up defence groups for the bus routes they used. He cross-border route to Market Drayton – meaning said buses were a form of transport often areas including Langley Dale, near , overlooked in keeping town centres like Ludlow would be left without a bus service. vibrant. “If we look at market-day passengers only, buses are coming into town with about 100 people on them,” he said. And he said it had been calculated that each user taking a bus journey into a market town centre from elsewhere spent on average about £38 each in goods and services. “Buses are bringing thousands of pounds into Ludlow,” he said.

Others said the loss of buses had contributed to illness in outlying villages as elderly residents could not get out of the house or to medical services easily. Madge Shineton, Shropshire councillor for , told the campaigners: “You Dave Cintas, 64, who lives in Langley Dale, uses the should be directing your energies to putting service three to four times a week in order to go to transport on the health agenda. Transport and football matches and Market Drayton Men’s Shed

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Media Monitor

Club, a social club in the town. He said: “I lost my year. Although all three park and ride sites at Meole driving licence about three years ago after being Brace, Harlescott and Oxon were retained, there diagnosed with glaucoma. Since then I have been were fewer buses running, with one every 20 using the bus to get around. The bus keeps me minutes instead of “up to every 10 minutes” and going. It is bad news they are cutting the service as “up to every 15 minutes”. Buses stop running at to get a bus now I would have to walk to or 6.20pm. Tern Hill which are about two to three miles away. Four or five people who get the bus cannot drive so Speaking at a full meeting of Shropshire Council, they are now cut off as well. In an ideal world a Councillor Peter Adams, deputy portfolio holder for community group would take over the running of transport, said: “Although there have been reforms the service – that is what we are all hoping.” there are still more than 100 buses a day.” Councillor Adams also said that the park and ride Telford & Wrekin Council is to cut its funding of bus system could have disappeared altogether if reforms services by nearly £1 million over the next five years had not been carried out. after awarding the contract to run bus routes in the borough to Arriva. The council will only pay £2 Shrewsbury Chronicle, March 2016 million over the term, a cut of 30 per cent. Council ______bosses said the 341/342 service was contracted by Shropshire Council and any final decision on the “Changes to buses are here to stay” future of the service would be up to them. Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for Criticism of Shrewsbury’s new park and ride has transport at Telford & Wrekin Council, said bosses been dismissed with Shropshire Council insisting would continue to liaise with their counterparts in people are receiving “the same level of service”. Shropshire on how the impact on the potential removal of the service could be minimised. Councillor Simon Jones, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said he Shropshire Star, February 2016 believed passengers would see no difference to the ______previous service. Shropshire Council introduced a new timetable in October. Under the changes all “Councillor’s plea over park and ride” three park and ride sites were retained, although there were fewer buses running per hour, with one Shoppers will abandon Shrewsbury and travel every 20 minutes instead of “up to every 10 elsewhere unless more park and ride buses are minutes” and “up to every 15 minutes”. made available, a councillor has claimed. Councillor Roger Evans, leader of Shropshire Council’s Liberal The changes have been criticised by Shropshire Democrat group, and representative of , Council’s Liberal Democratic leader Roger Evans, said constituents had complained that people were who said he had received complaints over buses having to queue for buses. being full and that the situation could lead to people considering shopping elsewhere. However, Shoppers would stop heading to Shrewsbury and Councillor Jones has said the re-design ensured that end up going to Telford or Birmingham instead, he the park and ride service will continue because the said, adding !I have had comments from my area to council will no longer have to subsidise it. He also say that with alterations in timings people are said the passenger numbers have remained having to queue for park and ride. What it means is consistent despite the changes. Councillor Jones some people are not going to Shrewsbury, they are said the council would not consider adding extra going to that place to the east of us. I do not want buses except in the case of “exceptional them to go there.” circumstances” such as flooding.

Shrewsbury’s park and ride was relaunched last Shrewsbury Chronicle, March 2016

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Bus News

End of the road for Arriva’s Scania buses get new buses

On Saturday 19 December 2015 Arriva said farewell Minsterley Motors have added five Optare to the last of a long line of Scania single deck buses Metrocity buses to their fleet. The 11.5m, Euro 5, that have given splendid service for many years Metrocity buses seat up to 44 and join two Optare across the Midlands network of local bus services. Solos already in service with Minsterley Motors, The Scania L113CRL (fleet number 3468) started life operating the Ludlow Park & Ride and town with Fox at their Southgates’ depot in services. The new Metrocity buses will operate on Leicester, and then moved to several depots routes between Shrewsbury & Bishops Castle. including Coalville, Burton on Trent, Wigston, Tamworth, Stafford, Bridgnorth and finally Telford.

From the 1 January 2016 all single deck buses operating local bus services will need to comply with DDA legislation and as Scania 3468 will not fully comply to meet all the DDA conditions it John Jones, Managing Director, Minsterley Motors can no longer perform said, “We already operate a number of Optare Solos front line local bus and our experience of these vehicles has been service duties. excellent. We have also been extremely pleased by

the dedication and high level of the product support Arriva thought it fitting to mark the occasion of the supplied by Optare. The outstanding in service fuel withdrawal of this once large fleet of vehicles with economy performance of the Metrocity made it an 3468 running daytime service 9 between Telford easy choice for us.” Town Centre, Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton.

Many transport enthusiasts took the opportunity to Steph Baker, Business Development Manager, ride on the bus on its last day working in regular Optare, said “The Metrocity is proving very popular service, and many others were out taking with operators looking for a vehicle with excellent photographs. fuel economy. I am very pleased that Minsterley Motors has chosen to purchase more Optare buses, this is testament to the quality of the Optare product and service support.” ______

Shropshire bus map

The map of bus routes currently operating across Shropshire, produced by Bus Users Shropshire, has now been published. It is hoped to improve on this diagrammatic version in the future. The map has been distributed to local libraries, tourist offices and bus stations, and is available to download from the Shropshire pages of www.bususers.org. ______

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Bus News

How road closures affect bus services

With the closure of Llandrinio Bridge and its effect on service 74 Llanfyllin to Shrewsbury we thought it would be interesting to find out how a bus company deals with a temporary road closure along one of its bus routes. So we spoke to local operator . Some of these closures are planned in advance so the operator can prepare for them or negotiate changes to limit the impact on services, while others are unplanned such as an accident, burst water main or damage to a bridge.

For planned closures they try to make contact with whoever is controlling the works to establish exactly peak hour journeys being diverted between where the closure is, when it will start and how long Llandrinio and Bausley Estate (near Crewe Green) it is likely to last (and a request to be informed when via Buttington and Halfway House, but the off peak it is about to re-open), whether the road will be shut journeys only operating between Bausley Estate and to all traffic or buses could be allowed through and Shrewsbury. As the closure was usually only for a what hours it will be shut. Sometimes there is a day or so and the passengers between Llanfyllin and simple diversion with minimal impact, or the road is Llandrinio had an alternative way of reaching only used by school buses and they can negotiate a Shrewsbury (via Oswestry) this was considered 'window' to pass through. With this information reasonable. they can establish a diversion route and inform the relevant council (for contracted services), and then When the bridge was closed from 2nd December establish if the council are willing to pay the cost if due to flood damage and then had a weight limit additional resources are required to maintain the imposed which prohibited buses, they had to review timetable. Finally they advise any schools affected the emergency timetable as it was going to be a long as well as the travelling public. closure. They looked at various options but had to keep the timetable to a one vehicle operation (as For unplanned closures they have to 'think on their the existing contract). The first bus from feet' and work out the best option. The biggest Llanfyllin via Llandrinio to Ford which connects with problem tends to be the lack of information about Celtic Travel’s X75 to Shrewsbury and only operates how long the closure may last and more importantly on Saturdays and school holidays would have to when it is re-opened. When the A483 in Pant was leave about 30 minutes earlier but would not get shut recently by an accident, the Police were back to Llanfyllin in time for the next bus to contacted who suggested that they should listen to Shrewsbury. As it carried very few passengers they local radio. A later check with Radio Shropshire’s opted for a connection with the X75 in Welshpool website, which had just been updated, showed that which allowed the rest of the timetable to be the A483 was still shut, but a few minutes later one operated with modifications. In the afternoon peak, of their drivers called to say that he had just arrived buses from Shrewsbury were scheduled to set down at Crossroads (a mile to the north of Pant) as required so that long diversions were avoided and the road was now open with no sign of barriers where unnecessary. This revised timetable was or Police cars. introduced on 12th December.

Llandrinio Bridge is closed due to flooding from time At the time of publication (late March) Llandrinio to time, and Tanat Valley Coaches had already Bridge is still closed to buses with no indication of established an emergency timetable which was when it will reopen, so the revised timetable agreed with . It resulted in the continues.

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Bus News

Bus services under threat from budget cuts hammering over the last five years, with loss of daytime frequency on main routes, removal of Bus Users Shropshire has grave concerns about the evening and Sunday services, and the axing of village drastic cuts proposed by Shropshire Council in their bus services. Even a major town like Ludlow is to funding for bus services. Following a very significant lose its daytime link to nearby Leominster because reduction in their public transport budget from Shropshire Council declines to recognise cross 2015/16 to 2016/17, their indicative budgets for border business as important. At £20 retail spend 2107/18 and 2018/19 show a reduction of 90% over per passenger we suggest our High Streets need the two years. The proposal is to reduce thepublic every bit of spend they can get! transport budget (excluding concessionary fares) ______from £1,515,000 in 2016/17 to £506,500 in 2017/18 and £145,000 in 2018/2019. A rural bus solution?

One in six households in Shropshire do not have any Bus services are under threat but could there be a access to a car. Many more people in car owning way of saving at least some of these services, even households do not have access to a car when they in a time of austerity? need one. With that background Shropshire Council’s proposals for reductions in the public In 2011, the market town of Hawes in North transport budget are alarming. The proposed Yorkshire lost its bus service to Garsdale Station. savings risks a collapse in bus service provision as After protests by residents, North Yorkshire County companies that rely on multiple sources of income Council offered a reduced £25,000-a-year subsidy , find one income stream lost, and with that the and the free use of a minibus, to anyone who could economy of scale that made them commercially re-start the service. Local people got together and viable. set up their own organisation, The Little White Bus Company, to run things - relying on a mixture of Bus services unlock access to other services and part-time and volunteer drivers. The service grew businesses. For any of those 18% of households and now carries around 50,000 passengers a year, (and the many more people without a car when they with 42 volunteers on its books. need it) the loss of bus access means all other services are effectively ended for them. There is no "It works like an point in having a job, shops in the High Street, a absolute dream," library, leisure facilities, or a doctor in a surgery. All says John Blackie, of these become remote and ‘home delivery’ the managing director only option if it exists. of the Little White Bus Company, Our small town High Streets really do benefit from which is run on a the pound in the pocket of the bus traveller. not-for-profit basis. "People absolutely love helping Whereas car users tend to shop in edge of town out. We've got magistrates, an ex-judge, an hypermarkets, bus users visit the smaller shops in architect, a housewife, a computing professor and the centre ensuring their pounds stay in the local two or three Methodist preachers who take part. economy to boost our under pressure town centres. One of them tries out his sermons in advance on the Research from the University of Central Lancashire passengers. They love that." The white minibuses showed that on market days average spend per bus are a familiar sight on the country lanes around passenger in Herefordshire was £41.09. More Hawes, home to Wensleydale cheese and situated in frequent bus services generate a lower spend per the Yorkshire Dales National Park. "At a time when journey, but even £20 spending per trip makes bus funding for councils and transport is being hit, this is subsidies of up to £4 a very good investment. absolutely a model for other areas to follow," says Blackie." Bus service subsidies in Shropshire have taken a ______

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Bus News

Bridgnorth town service Arriva, at a frequency of every 30 minutes from In July last year GHA Coaches took over route 101 0700 to 1830 on Monday Bridgnorth town service and combined it with route to Saturday. Copies of 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth which they had also the new timetable are taken over from Arriva. At the same time Arriva available on their website combined their route 99 Telford to Bridgnorth with (www.ghacoaches.co.uk) route 890 Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton to give a or from their drivers. Let through service (route 9), which resulted in the us hope that that this change will restore a reliable withdrawal of the Wolverhampton service from and punctual service around Bridgnorth for bus Sydney Cottage estate. Following problems with users in the town. punctuality and reliability, GHA changed the ______timetable of the 436 at the beginning of September, reducing the Sydney Cottage estate part of the town Threat to bus service in north Shropshire service from every 30 minutes to hourly. Telford & Wrekin Council has announced that it will With the reduction in frequency of buses to the withdraw its funding for the cross border service Sydney Cottage estate from three to one an hour, 341/342 from Market Drayton to Wellington from the loss of the direct service from the estate to April 2016. Unless Shropshire Council is prepared to Wolverhampton, and continuing problems of pick up the whole cost of this service (which seems punctuality and reliability on service 436 around the highly unlikely) it will disappear. town, bus users in Bridgnorth were far from happy. Any reduction or withdrawal of this route will have a Bus Users major effect on public transport between Market Shropshire Drayton and Telford. The villages of Stoke Heath, approached Stoke-on-Tern, Ollerton, Childs Ercall, Eaton-on-Tern Arriva to see and will lose their only service. People whether they dependent on public transport needing to attend would be able the Princess Royal Hospital (out-patients, maternity, to divert their visitors, staff), Euston House and the Telford service 9 via the Magistrates’ Court (defendants, witnesses, jurors) Sydney Cottage will be hard pressed to reach their intended e s t a t e . destination. It appears that many passengers use Unfortunately at this time they do not have the this service to visit Market Drayton’s Wednesday resource to serve Sydney Cottage and its addition to market, while others will wish to visit Telford Town the service would severely complicate the route and Centre or connect with rail services at Wellington. timetable with the nature of roads ,access and additional running time required. They did say that Market Drayton Seniors’ Enterprise recently they are hoping to start a morning service which conducted a survey over a six month period, the commences in Bridgnorth from Sydney Cottage purpose of which was to learn about the concerns of estate later in the year to assist with a number of the 50+ age group. The results show that transport workers who travel on to Wolverhampton. was by far the issue of most concern. It is now equally apparent that the Transport results However, there is some good news as GHA Coaches emerging from the target group transcend all age has announced that from April 4 th they will be groups. Following these findings and the separating the Bridgnorth Town part of the service subsequent realisation of extended deprivation of from the main 436 and reintroduce service 101 public transport Market Drayton Seniors’ Enterprise which should make buses more reliable. It will run and North Salop Wheelers, a community transport on a similar route to service previously operated by group who operate some services into Market

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Bus News

Drayton, have joined resources and expertise to locally-elected mayor. The mayor may have powers explore how the adverse effects may be best for finance, health, police and other services in the alleviated. They envisage that this will be by way of area. The Secretary of State for Communities and a dedicated North Shropshire Link project separate Local Government will have the authority to allocate to those services currently provided by North Salop particular powers to elected mayors. This can Wheelers. include powers to control and franchise the local ______bus service, rather than leaving the bus service to private-sector bus companies to provide. Devolution for bus services? The 38 areas bidding for devolved powers include The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill is our neighbours , Telford & Wrekin, currently going through Parliament to enable local and Herefordshire, but interestingly areas to bid for greater independence and have a not Shropshire. ______

Bus Users UK

New Chair for Bus Users UK Local Groups meeting

Former Under Secretary of State A meeting of Local Groups was held in Birmingham for Transport, the Rt Hon on Saturday 12 March. Disappointingly it was only Norman Baker, is the new Chair attended by 14 people, with representation from of Bus Users UK. During his time just 9 groups out of a total of 38. The following with the Department for points were discussed. Transport, Norman’s achievements included the • Stability of Bus Users UK. Funding has been lost £600million Local Sustainable from some sources so this has had to be made up Transport Fund which saw £1billion of sustainable from others or certain items or actions cancelled. transport projects announced across the country. • Coach services. Bus Users UK need to expand to include complaints, comments, etc. regarding Norman Baker said: “I am delighted to be joining Bus coach services. Users UK. I know from my time as a transport • Concerns regarding dwindling services in most minister just what a valuable role they play on areas except South East. Some areas that seemed behalf of bus passengers. Bus travel is a crucial and to be safe from cuts (e.g. Oxford) have now found often neglected form of public transport. I am a they are subject to them. Commercial services strong supporter both of the bus and the bus are mainly stable but it seems to be subsidised passenger, and will be bringing that to my role for services that are suffering. This has shown the Bus Users.” ‘Beeching’ concern that if the small services are cut it will also affect people travelling on the main In welcoming him as Chair, Claire Walters, Chief services. Some small companies are affected by Executive of Bus Users said: “Norman Baker has slow payment from councils. The 1985 act is been a committed campaigner on transport issues becoming close to testing, as councils have a duty and brings with him a wealth of expertise and a to provide some services. deeply held passion for transport. We very much • Talked about mental health issues; people have look forward to working with him and ensuring that same rights as those with physical problems. policy and decision makers give greater priority to the bus and that the voice of bus passengers is Finally, it was announced that the AGM will be held heard.” in September.

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Service Changes

This is the last time that service changes will appear in the newsletter as Bus Users Shropshire (with the help of Shropshire Council) now produces a separate monthly list of forthcoming bus service changes. The first edition for April has just been published and a copy of it and each monthly edition will be emailed to all members and supporters. Anyone else can receive a regular copy by becoming a supporter, for which there is no charge. Just email [email protected]

12 December 2015 increased from three to six, giving an hourly frequency with a two hour gap early afternoon. 74 Llanfyllin to Shrewsbury. Due to repairs to Llandrinio bridge and consequent closure to large 4 April 2016 vehicles a temporary timetable was introduced from this date. Some journeys divert between 101 Bridgnorth Town Service. This service which Llandrinio and Crew Green via A483, Buttington, was withdrawn in July last year will be reintroduced A458, Halfway House and Prince's Oak, some divert by GHA Coaches on a similar route to previously. It between Llandrinio and Ford via A483, Buttington will operate every 30 minutes from 0700 to 1830 on and A458, while others operate in two parts: Monday to Saturday. Llanfyllin to Llandrinio and Crew Green to Shrewsbury. Finally, the first journey from Llanfyllin 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth. operates as normal to Llandrinio and then via A483 This service will no longer serve to Welshpool, where it terminates and connects Sydney Cottage estate or The with Celtic Travel X75 for Shrewsbury. Grove in Bridgnorth, which will now be served by the new 101 4 January 2016 service. Journeys from Bridgnorth will generally leave 9 minutes later than currently, and there will X92 Shifnal to Telford Town Centre. The first be an additional later journey from both Shrewsbury journey from Telford on Mondays to Fridays leaves and Bridgnorth. 10 minutes earlier and diverts via Stafford Park. The rest of the journeys in both directions run 5 11 April 2016 minutes earlier. The Saturday service is withdrawn. X92 Shifnal to Telford Town Centre. This service, 21 February 2016 which was introduced by Arriva in response to competition from Banga Travel on the Telford to 8/8A Telford Town Centre to Wolverhampton. The Wolverhampton route, will be withdrawn. following journeys on route 8A were withdrawn: ______0915 from Telford and 0943 from Shifnal on Monday to Friday, 0920 from Telford and 1438 from Next issue published 1st July 2016

Shifnal on Saturday. There are minor timing Please submit your contributions no later than changes to other journeys on Saturday. 8th June 2016

2 April 2016 It would be really helpful to receive information electronically in Word or plain text format, and Shrewsbury to Ironbridge Circular. digital photos, which should be sent to: This service is reintroduced for 2016 [email protected] in a revised form. It operates between Shrewsbury and Wroxeter Alternatively, you can send written information, only and runs on Saturday and or photo prints which will be returned, to: Monday instead of Saturday and Bus Users Shropshire, c/o Shrewsbury Sunday. The number of journeys is Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE

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