IN ANOTHER blow to local transport, a vital bus route providing links between Bromsgrove and Droitwich will no longer be operational as of the new year.
The 145 Diamond Buses service which takes passengers from Rubery to Droitwich Spa via Bromsgrove will only operate between Longbridge Railway Station and Stoke Prior via Bromsgrove as of January 5, 2025.
It’s sister 145A route will no longer service Rubery, Wychbold or Droitwich Spa. In response to these drastic changes, a petition launched by Wychbold resident, Sophie Williams, has gained traction online and garnered almost 200 signatures.
Those petitioning and supporting this campaign are reliant on this service to commute to work, school or for pleasure and these changes will remove vital connections between the two Worcestershire towns and neighbouring regions in south Birmingham.
Petition starter, Sophie, explained that her mobility issues mean the service is essential to making her daily commute feasible and has a ‘significant impact’ on her quality of life.
She said: “It’s not difficult to see the 145 bus as more than just a means of transportation. It serves our community, becoming a lifeline for those who need it most.
“Our elderly residents utilise this service to maintain an independent life, freely moving around for their needs and contributing to maintaining their mental health due to the autonomy it provides.”
Operators of the service have cited ‘low patronage’ levels on some sections of these routes as reason for the changes. The announcement of the axing of the 145A service was made at the bottom of a list of ‘service improvements’ across Worcestershire on the operators website.
Sophie added: “We need the service. Maintaining the route is more than just preventing an inconvenient change – it is about safeguarding the quality of life for everyone in our community.”
With these service changes, alternative transport arrangements are likely to force passengers to use multiple different services and would require more walking – something which is more complicated and less feasible for many users, including elderly pensioners.
Visit https://www.change.org/p/maintain-the-145-bus-service-from-bromsgrove-to-droitwich-via-wychbold to support the petition.
Visit https://www.diamondbuses.com/news/ww-service-enhancements-january-2025/ for more information.
