PLANS to axe a number of bus services in Redditch have been shelved – at least until March 2023.
Diamond Buses announced that the Nos 11, 12, 52, 52A, 62 and 247 services had been ‘saved’ while the 67 Redditch to Studley route – vital for local children attending Studley High School – would be withdrawn and replaced by a re-routed 247 with a revised timetable.
The news follows discussions with Worcestershire County Council over subsidies for selected Diamond Bus routes.
However, these subsidies are only guaranteed until March 2023.
County Councillor Mike Rouse (Conservative, Redditch South) portfolio holder for highways and transport at County Hall, hailed the deal.
He said: “We’ve worked closely with bus operators in the past few months to come up with a solution that benefits the residents of Worcestershire.
“I’m delighted to hear that an agreement has now been reached. Of course there is still a way to go to secure the future of bus services but this council is committed to improving all forms of transport.”
However, Redditch Labour said the short-term nature of the deal should ring alarm bells for all local residents.
Labour Borough Councillor Andy Fry, who is standing in the Arrow Valley West county by-election, said: “I hold a monthly bus ticket and use Diamond buses to travel all around Redditch – to get to work, and to socialise.
“Many people have spoken to me about their concerns regarding the bus service.
“It is a lifeline for many. It’s important to remember we have the lowest level of car ownership in the whole county.”
Bob Baker, managing director for Diamond Bus, added: “We are hugely grateful for the additional funding that the council has been able to offer as an emergency measure.
“We are committed to providing Worcestershire with the robust bus network it needs to support a growing community, but services need to become viable commercially in the long term and to do this we need a significant growth in passengers travelling by bus.”
