Changes made to number of Vale bus services - The Evesham Observer

Changes made to number of Vale bus services

Evesham Editorial 12th Apr, 2016 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A NUMBER of changes have been made to bus services across the Vale after transport chiefs blamed a lack of funding for cutting services.

First Bus unveiled the changes to a number of routes affecting residents in Evesham and Pershore which came into effect on Sunday (April 10).

The 382 service between Worcester and Eckington which takes in Defford and Pershore now has a revised route between Pershore and Eckington, operating via Great Comberton.

Revisions have also been made to the 550 and 551 services between Worcester and Evesham which takes in Pershore and Upper Moor.




Service 551 is revised to operate via County Hall and Stoulton Hawbridge to replace the 561 which has been axed.

The 551 also replaces the 44 service between Worcester and County Hall on Saturdays.


First have also confirmed timetable revisions for the route with journeys now operating every hour Monday to Saturday.

However off-peak journeys will now terminate at Upper Moor with those wishing to travel between Cropthorne and Charlton villages asked to use a revised X50 service.

The X50 route (Worcester-Pershore-Evesham) has been amended to operate between Worcester and Evesham and is diverted via Cropthorne and Charlton

The service will no long continue to Alcester but will operate every hour from Monday to Saturday during daytime.

Sarah East General Manager for First Worcester said: “We are constantly looking at ways to improve the bus services that we provide to our local communities.

“By working closely with Worcestershire County Council, their officers and other key stakeholders, such as educational establishments and businesses, it will strengthen and support our objective in improving the public transport provision in Worcestershire”.

“We realise that some of the changes that are being introduced, especially where there are reductions in services, will not be popular with the few people that use them.

“But, we need to concentrate our resources in areas where there is a high demand for a bus service to attain sustainability and develop growth opportunities”.

“There is very little funding available today to support services that are used by just a handful of people and so unfortunately we have to make difficult decisions in the future of these services.

“That said, we will always look at ways to try and accommodate residential areas by linking services or if necessary reduce frequencies to keep a service operational,” she added.

* What do you think? E-mail the editor on [email protected] with your views

  • A FURTHER public meeting to discuss public transport issues in Evesham is set to be held.

The newly-formed Bus Users Group and Evesham Older People’s Forum will hold a meeting on Tuesday, April 26 at Evesham Town Hall from 2.15pm and everyone is welcome.

Responses to the consultation on the Town Plan indicated strong interest in forming a Bus Users Group for Evesham.

Anyone who can’t make the meeting but is interested in joining the group can e-mail [email protected] or call 01386 765572 for more information.

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