Shropshire’s Lib Dems fight to protect bus services despite funding cuts

Shropshire’s Liberal Democrats are determined to protect and improve the county’s bus services despite bus funding being cut by the Labour Government by more than £200k (from £3.07 million to £2.86 million).

In spite of this cut, Lib Dem bosses at Shropshire Council managed to maintain essential services at the latest round of retendering (which covered some of Shropshire’s bus services, not all). Following the retendering process, the Lib Dems announced the following routes had been saved:

• The 64 Market Drayton to Shrewsbury route has been saved after it was threatened with cancellation
• The 501 Ellesmere to Shrewsbury has been saved
• The 437 Broseley to Shrewsbury has been saved
• The 553 Bishop’s Castle to Shrewsbury has been saved
• The 558 Montgomery to Shrewsbury (via areas such as Chirbury, Brockton and Westbury) has been saved
• The 301 Market Drayton town service has been saved

The Lib Dems also announced:

• Ludlow town services were being improved with brand-new buses
• The two Wem and Ellesmere in-town services have been expanded into a new Wem to Ellesmere route (the 508) that will also provide in-town services at each end. This will run six days a week.
• New bus shelters with electronic real-time information will be installed at Oswestry and Market Drayton bus stations in July 2026, and at the Oxon and Harlescott park and ride sites in Shrewsbury in August 2026.
• Shrewsbury bus routes 23, 20 and 26 have not only been saved but will now benefit from new vehicles and improved timetables.

Watch Lib Dem portfolio holder responsible for transport, Councillor Rob Wilson explain the situation in a video message here:

Whilst Shropshire Council’s revenue budget for buses has been protected, a reduction in funding from the Government means that tough choices have had to be made:

• In Ludlow, the Park & Ride bus service will end but the 702 route will now include the Park & Ride car park, so residents from surrounding areas can still park and ride.
• Meole Brace Park & Ride had the lowest usage of the three Shrewsbury Park & Ride services and so keeping this service going, in light of funding cuts, could not be justified.
• However, the Oxon and Harlescott Park & Ride services are being improved with services running until 10pm and buses running every 12 minutes at peak times
• Unfortunately, due to low usage and Government cuts, the following Shrewsbury town bus services could not be maintained: the 2, 2A, 12 and 37).

Councillor Rob Wilson, the portfolio holder responsible for transport at Shropshire Council said: “Despite bus funding cuts by the Government, Shropshire’s Lib Dems have fought hard to protect vital services, especially where there is no other transport option, and to improve services wherever we can with newer vehicles and improved hours of operation. We’ve also managed to set a responsible balanced budget.”

Councillor Heather Kidd, Lib Dem leader of Shropshire Council, said: “The funding cut is disappointing and has made it challenging to protect our bus services. It’s important that this Government recognises how a lack of bus services impacts young people, non-drivers and older residents in rural areas. I hope they consider this carefully when allocating future bus funding.”