Petition to save town's bus service

A petition has been raised in a bid to save Kidderminster's park-and-ride service which is currently under threat of being abolished.

The service has been losing money since it was introduced in 2001 to encourage staff to leave cars outside the town centre.

It was initially set up to help the town cope with a shortage of car parking spaces when the multi-storey parks in Pitt Lane and Market Street were demolished seven years ago.

Since then it has been operating from Mondays to Saturdays from Stadium Close to Green Street and Exchange Street with buses running until 9.40pm on the hour and about 20 minutes to each hour. A report for the council compiled last year showed that only between 35 and 50 people used the service each day.

The council last year spent £54,000 on it but only received £11,492 in income.

Initially councillors suggested reducing the hours of the service but they are set to decide on Wednesday whether it should be scrapped altogether.

But users want it retained and claim that it is a vital asset for the town.

Campaigners have now raised a petition bearing 96 signatures.

This will be presented to the full council meeting.