Fury after 158 bus axed
Residents are furious that the only bus which runs to Birmingham from Shelfield and Pelsall has been axed and claim they have been kept in the dark over the move. The 158 service, which ran from Bloxwich to Pelsall, Shelfield and then Birmingham will finish on September 3, Travel West Midlands bosses have decided.
The service is to be replaced with a faster bus route called the 958 which will link Bloxwich, Brownhills and Birmingham.
But residents in the two areas have flooded the travel authority with complaints, claiming they have been left high and dry.
High Heath resident Jackie Caine said: "Other passengers and myself are devastated by this change.
"We rely on this service for our jobs and we only found out about it by chance."
Pelsall Councillor Marco Longhi said residents had been flocking to his surgery to complain. He said: "There has been no consultation on this whatsoever and people are up in arms."
TWM spokesman Phil Bateman said: "The outcome of the review is that passenger numbers are poor and the service is not performing in the way that is was designed too. TWM have decided a more responsive service is required."
