PERSHORE’s last remaining bus service on a Sunday could be axed should proposals from county transport chiefs be accepted.
The revelation came during an emergency Pershore Town Council meeting on Tuesday (May 27) when worried councillors discussed a newly released provisional timetable of services running in the town and surrounding villages.
Worcestershire County Council’s revised timetable follows plans from the authority to reduce its subsidised bus services to help slash £3million from its annual budget.
And following a county-wide consultation, County Hall bosses will be asked to formally agree to changes made to its subsidised services at a cabinet meeting on Monday, June 9.
The provisional timetable showed the 566 Plumline service would remain but its extension to nearby villages Upton Snodsbury and Peopleton would be removed for good.
The threatened 564 Wychavon Hopper would also remain should the timetable be formally agreed on.
The timetable also indicated passengers would be able to use their passes before 9.30am on particular services.
But town clerk Ann Dobbins told members the county council had suggested it could not offer a subsidised service to and
from Pershore on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Sundays – meaning the existing 166 service to the town may come
to a close.
However, Mrs Dobbins said the lack of a Sunday service to and from the town could be investigated in the near future with the long-term hope of the 166 service being reinstated in some shape or form.
But despite the changes, Pershore councillors were left relatively happy with the proposals after originally fearing its Plumline and Hopper services would be axed completely.
Coun Charles Tucker said at the meeting: “I think if we were to have this timetable then Pershore will have been very lucky – but it is still early days.”
County councillor for Pershore Liz Tucker reminded members the plans were only provisional and could change before the official announcement is made next month.
“What we are talking about here is a draft on which we comment and which we then take to council. We are desperate not to be reported that anything is solved but it is in negotiation.” she said.
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