IT IS both good and bad news for Bromsgrove bus users now the changes to the town’s services have been announced.
Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet confirmed which routes would be affected from September at its meeting on Monday (June 9).
While it is good news only £1.6million of the original proposal for £3million bus cuts will be made, a lot of services will still be affected.
This comes after a consultation earlier this year and at the end of last year which generated 8,500 responses and was described as the ‘best ever’ by the authority.
Among the services affected will be the 007 bus from The Oakalls to Romsley which will now instead be going from Bromsgrove to Haleowen via Catshill. Another rerouted bus will pick up those travelling between The Oakalls and Bromsgrove.
While, the 141 from Bromsgrove to Droitwich will remain the same but will be less frequent on a Saturday.
The 145 from Redditch to Bromsgrove will also remain the same but will now be leaving Rubery out.
The other services which will be affected is the 182/183 from Bromsgrove to Redditch which will now be provided for at least three days a week.
And, the 181 that goes from Blackwell to St Bedes will now be provided by a school service.
Coun Chris Bloore said: “It’s frustrating that yet again the bus services are taking another hit.
“It is good news some services will remain but not good by far that so many will have a reduced service or lose their service outright.
“For a county that is trying to increase its economic output so ambitiously – it makes no sense to further dismantle the public transport network yet again.”
Coun John Smith added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in this consultation and the officers who have worked tirelessly to come up with what I believe is a very acceptable solution to a difficult and highly challenging situation.
“We went out to a very wide consultation process and the response was absolutely incredible and probably was the best consultation exercise the county council has taken on board.
“Working with operators and partners some services will now become commercial and will be run with no subsidy with no cost to the taxpayer.”
* What do you think? Are you happy with these changes? Do you think Worcestershire has adequate public transport links? Email [email protected]
