Protest as buses axed

Villagers near Kidderminster claim they are struggling to reach hospital and GP appointments after bus services were cut.

Furious residents in Chaddesley Corbett are now battling to get the curtailed services, which once ran between Kidderminster and Bromsgrove, reinstated.

Buses did pass through the village every hour but now services are only once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

People say it has made their lives difficult and made it stressful getting to important appointments. A petition has now been raised to get the service restored.

Mrs Jean Foster, of Hemming Way, Chaddesley Corbett, said: "The new times are totally unsuitable if someone has to go to Kidderminster Hospital or for dental or other appointments.

"Many have been unable to go to either Bromsgrove or Kidderminster since the ruthless curtailment of the so-called bus service but we are being asked to use public transport and are given bus passes which we cannot use."

There is no designated bus stop or pull-in and the pick-up point is up a very steep hill half a mile from the end of the village, she added.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: "When we were notified of First Bus' intention to reroute the service we carried out surveys and found, on average, between one and two passengers per journey either boarding or stopping off at the relevant villages.

"We arranged through a subsidy agreement for First to reroute some journeys.

"We are also arranging for a pair of bus stops to be placed on the main road near to the turn to Chaddesley Corbett and would remind residents that we fund the Community Transport helpline - on 01299 405820 - which may be able to help those for whom the walk to the bus stop is too great or because the service does not meet their needs."