PROPOSALS for the future of bus services in Ludlow and south Shropshire have been criticised by a users’ group.

Local passenger group Bus Users Shropshire has described Shropshire Council’s draft bus strategy as ‘very substantially flawed’.

The draft strategy, which Shropshire Cabinet approved last July, has been released for public consultation, which ends on Monday (February 13).

One of the criticisms is that people were denied the opportunity to comment upon some information behind the proposed new framework.

“Like councillors we believe it impossible to judge the suitability of an algorithm without knowing its likely effects,” said Peter Gilbert, chairman of Bus Users Shropshire.

The group says that calculations of the level of subsidy between short urban routes and longer services to remote towns and villages are inappropriate.

The strategy itself is also criticised for being only an exercise in justifying cuts rather than a strategic look at Shropshire’s transport needs.

“There is no mention of current passenger numbers or trends, no review of areas of housing or business growth, of how to make buses more attractive in relation to provision of information, speeding up journeys, supporting acceptable levels of frequency or liaison with operators,” said Peter Gilbert.

“The strategy does not address capital expenditure or where future DfT grant monies might be sought, for example for improvements to bus stations, to introduce integrated ticketing, or for low carbon clean buses,” added Peter Gilbert.

“It does not mention the existence or importance of bus services into Shropshire’s many border towns - places like Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch and Oswestry - which have services from other counties. There is no consideration of working with neighbouring councils to ensure these services continue.

“The bus budget has been massively reduced and we do not believe bus services should be cut further. The financial gains for the council are disproportionately small compared with the impact on rural communities.”

It is possible to comment on the strategy before Monday by writing or sending an email to Shropshire Council directly transport@shropshire.gov.uk.