Two Market Drayton bus services are to be axed next month after Shropshire Council’s decision to stop subsidising them.
The 221 Friday service to Whitchurch, which goes through Hodnet, and the 323 Market Drayton to Telford bus, which goes through Cheswardine and Hinstock, will not operate after May 28.
Council transport chiefs blamed its decision on the high cost of subsidising the services, compared to the number of passengers using them.
Shropshire Council figures revealed that the cost of providing the services in 2009/10 was approximately £67,373, with around 4,872 passengers predicted to use them. This works out at a cost per passenger, per journey of £13.83 - the amount of subsidy currently being paid by the council to Arriva Buses to operate the services.
Jonathan Hayes of Shropshire Council said: “The council is keen to enhance and improve local bus services for which it provides financial support. However, we must also ensure that this represents good value for money for the council and that funding is available to support these services.
“A number of local bus services were identified as receiving a high level of council subsidy, compared to the number of passengers using the service. These include the 221 and 323 and the decision was taken by Shropshire Council at its meeting on Feburary 25 to withdraw its subsidy from these services.
“Therefore, they will no longer operate after Friday May 28 2010.”
Keith Myatt of Arriva Buses said: “They are Shropshire Council’s bus services, not ours, and we won’t operate them without a subsidy because they aren’t commercially viable.”
Cheswardine Parish Council chairman Councillor Mike Hill said: “The reason there’s a bus service is because some people want to go between Cheswardine and Market Drayton, particularly on market days. It’s extremely valuable for some of the people of Cheswardine and if there’s an alternative way of providing it, then it ought to be pursued.”
Shropshire councillor for Hodnet Karen Calder said: “At the recent annual meeting of Hodnet Parish Council, I gave a report to the parish councillors explaining the implications of the expected reduction of funding to local government.
“This was one example of the difficult decisions that will have to be taken both now and in the future.”
By Winston Brown
