THERE has been an improvement in bus services in Ludlow that were cut after the coronavirus lockdown but it is not enough.

Minsterley Motors has started running more frequent bus services across Ludlow. Town services had been reduced to a single bus running hourly during lockdown.

Now as lockdown eases, more people are going out to shop. Visitors are coming to Ludlow.

Ludlow’s 722 park and ride service from the Eco Park will be runs every half an hour on Fridays and Saturdays during August. The first bus from the Eco Park is at 8.15am. The last bus from the town centre will leave The Compasses at 5pm.

On Fridays and Saturdays also, the 701 town service serving the north of the town will run half hourly between 8.15am and 5pm.

Monday to Thursday, a single bus service will run hourly around the town including to the park and ride.

The arrangements will be in place throughout August. The timetable for September will be announced later in the month.

But this is not enough and the service improvement needs to be extended to six days a week and not just on Fridays and Saturdays, according to Vivienne Parry, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South and a Town Councillor.

“If we are to get people back into the town then it is vital that there is a regular bus service every day,” she said.

Mrs Parry says that the problem with the buses has been made worse because of a gas main repair in Temeside.

When King Street is closed on Fridays and Saturday, buses will operate from outside the Compasses on Corve Street.

Temeside is closed for essential gas works until August 14. Buses will not serve Weeping Cross and Steventon until the works are complete.

Sandpits Road is closed for major utility works aimed at preventing flooding at Whitefriars. The works are running ahead of schedule and are now likely to finish in January 2021 rather than February. During the closure, buses will divert via Livesey Road and not serve Whitefriars.