Totally shocked by 144 removal

I AM totally shocked at the removal of the 144.

My husband and I moved out of Birmingham in April 2021 and I relied on that service as I did when living in Birmingham.

It’s a poor excuse about people working from home, yes people had to in 2020, but that is not really the case with a lot of people now.

We are encouraged to use public transport to keep cars off the road due to emissions/clean air and not everyone has a car (big expense).

Trains don’t suit everyone and they can but unreliable as services can and have been cancelled – as I have found out on a few occasions when travelling from Worcester Foregate Street to Birmingham Snow Hill.

So lighten up and think about people’s jobs, and jobs they may lose as they are not able to get to work.

And don’t forget this is the second city outside of London.

Dissatisfied customer

More needs to done to replace the loss of 144’s Brum section

DROITWICH Labour Party welcomes the decision to continue a bus service from Bromsgrove to Birmingham and back as this is a vital service for residents of our town.

However, we have several reservations and concerns about what is being proposed:

1. The new service is currently being offered for six months only (subject to review) and we believe our residents need something more definite than that.

2. In the absence of details, to travel to Birmingham could now involve three separate costs, making the journey more expensive than it used to be coming at a time when everyone is feeling the impact of rising costs in every area of their lives.

3. Two separate journeys (four if you count the return) will be extremely difficult for those with disability and mobility issues, especially if they’re attending hospital appointments.

4. Will the timetable for the new service ‘marry’ up with that of the 144 into and out of Bromsgrove allowing time to change and not leaving bus users waiting for an overly long period of time for that connection?

5. There is no Sunday service – yet people in certain jobs still must work on a Sunday and hospital appointments can now take place on the Sabbath, causing difficulties for a significant number of people.

All this at a time when our local rail service (West Midlands Railways) is returning to the unreliability and chaos it was famous for before the pandemic began and taxi and fuel prices have risen.

We call on all decision makers from Worcestershire County Council and transport providers to continue to look for a longer term, more sustainable solution to this issue that does not leave the residents of Droitwich Spa stranded, out of pocket and disillusioned with our decision makers.

Droitwich Labour Party

County Council not being totally honest about bus replacement

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council issued a press release stating the stretch of the 144 no longer being served by First Bus Worcester would now be operated by another provider and would continue to go to Birmingham, knowing this to not be totally honest.

Residents of Bromsgrove have been duped, deceived and clearly misled over the service. The county council gave the impression that the bus would continue to go to Birmingham – the council failed to say when they mentioned ‘Birmingham’, they meant ‘Longbridge’. In addition, the bus would only run every 90 minutes and not operate on a Sunday.

Once again residents of North Worcestershire are being treated like second class citizens.

At the time of the announcement regarding the 144, three bus services in Worcester City were to be axed.

However, all three services in Worcester have been fully restored with funding from Worcestershire County Council. If funding could be found to save buses in Worcester, then money can be found to restore the 144 service in full.

The county council has acted disgracefully treating residents in North Worcestershire with utter contempt.

I have joined forces with others to put more pressure on the county council to fund the 144 in full as they have done in Worcester.

Coun Peter McDonald

Rubery

Nominate a Heart Hero as in-person awards ceremony returns

THE BRITISH Heart Foundation (BHF) will host its fifth national Heart Hero Awards ceremony this year.

Excitingly, this year will mark a return to a live event after two years of being held online due to the Covid pandemic.

Our virtual event last year – hosted by Vernon Kay – was a fantastic and emotional night which celebrated winners and nominees from different walks of life and from every part of the UK – from remarkable fund-raisers and heroic individuals who stepped up to a stranger’s life using CPR.

We know there are many more unsung Heart Heroes out there and we want to shine a light on their selfless achievements and thank them.

This event raises awareness of the continued need for funding for the pioneering research that is turning science fiction into reality and providing hope for more than 7million in the UK with heart and circulatory conditions.

We want your readers to make a valuable nomination for the Heart Hero Awards.

A Heart Hero can be anyone from a healthcare professional doing exceptional work, to a young person living with heart disease who has shown incredible courage and determination or even an inspiring fund-raiser.

Those shortlisted will be invited to an awards ceremony in London on December 1 when winners will be announced.

Visit bhf.org.uk/heartheroes for more and to nominate in the eight categories.

Entries close at 5pm on May 31.

Karen Robinson

Fund-raising Manager

British Heart Foundation

EDITOR’S COMMENT

THE MURDER of Zobaidah Salangy two years ago shocked the Bromsgrove community so the conviction of her husband Nezam for murder and his brothers for their part in hiding the body is welcomed.

People have spoken highly of Zobaidah both at the time and this week.

Hopefully the three involved in her death will all be given full life terms and, of equal importance, is for their children – who have lost both parents – get the support they need.

We welcome your letters…..

What pressing issues do you feel need addressing in Bromsgrove, Rubery, Droitwich and South Birmingham? Send us your views to [email protected] or [email protected]