New bus stops put up as services are scrapped

When six new bus stops went up on a Dudley estate it seemed like a cause for celebration.

But the new stops have rubbed salt into the wound for residents - because services on the Priory estate were scrapped just days ago. It has left campaigners bamboozled about the need for the new stops when the travel operator said there is insufficient demand for the buses.

Five signs at stops in Forest Road and one in Woodland Road say they will no longer be used with the exception of school services.

The 206 and 207 bus routes into Dudley town centre were scrapped last Sunday because operator National Express said not enough people used them after demolition of homes.

Centro put up the stops two months ago because it said passengers had had to hail down buses. It says it is in talks with other operators about replacement services.

Ward Councillor Ken Finch said people were puzzled about why other providers would run services if the reason for axing the 206 and 207 was low passenger numbers.

He said: "If these routes were uneconomical there is no need for stops. People are being encouraged to use public transport and I agree with that but in reality facilities are being taken away without consultation."

Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said: "We were informed last week that National Express which operates the 206 and 207, had decided to withdraw the services for commercial reasons caused by low passenger numbers.

"While National Express has taken a decision to withdraw these two services, in our role as the region's transport authority we will continue to talk to other private bus operators about the possibility of providing new services for the area.

"We are also talking to Dudley Council about their longer term proposals to redevelop the Priory Estate and its future public transport requirements."