A CAMPAIGN group has called for improved transport links between Broadway and Evesham and further afield in Worcestershire during weekends.
Residents living in the Cotswold village and neighbouring communities of Wickhamford and Childswickham currently have no timetabled bus service, important days for shopping, social and leisure activities, Vale Bus and Rail group (VBR) has said.
The group pointed out that residents can travel into Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon on public transport provided by bus operators supported by Gloucestershire and Warwickshire County Councils but not west into the Vale.
Julian Palfrey, chair of the Vale Bus and Rail group, said that the bus operator NN Cresswell runs a reliable service Mondays to Fridays without support from Worcestershire County Council (WCC), and wished to extend its timetable.
“They would like to provide Saturday services from Broadway to and from Evesham but cannot do so without funding from the county council as public transport authority,” he said.
He has called on Worcestershire County Council to divert just some of the £9.3million Government funding to safeguard and improve timetabled bus services instead of using it to promote and extend the on-demand system (known as demand response travel or DRT) rolled out across the district last year.
Mr Palfrey added: “There is a demand for DRT but it should not be seen as cure all to cover for the failings of public transport policy over recent years and the major cutbacks to our local bus network which have resulted.”
The service revolves around an app and has no fixed timetable, allowing users to select pick-up and drop-off points along a particular route.
Councillor Karl Perks, cabinet member for highways and transport said that WCC had recently received confirmation that the Government’s local bus grant funding had been extended to 2030.
He confirmed that the funding would support the county’s bus service improvement plan (BSIP) which would make local buses more reliable, frequent, and better integrated with other modes of transport across the county.
The plan also includes investment in bus infrastructure, resulting in more consistent and accessible stops and shelters, along with the development of new mobility hubs.
“Service improvements are already underway, including increasing the frequency of the X50 between Evesham, Pershore and Worcester, which has led to a strong rise in passenger numbers.
“The new Wychavon Demand Responsive Transport zone is also proving highly successful, with usage growing every month and customer satisfaction averaging 4.9 out of 5, and over 90 per cent with five star reviews,” Coun Perks said.
He added that a review of all bus services was currently underway to identify priorities for support and enhancement.
“This will help meet BSIP ambitions while expanding Demand Responsive Transport, offering more flexible and accessible options, especially for rural communities where fixed routes may be less accessible,” he added.
