A controversial decision to axe a community bus service which provides a vital lifeline for many is being called-in amid concerns it was made unfairly.
The Number Seven bus which links residents in Coton Hill to Shrewsbury town centre was axed after councillors on the Severn Loop local joint committee last month voted against providing any more funding to the subsidised route.
It was originally intended to be cut last year but following a public protest meeting, Shropshire Council agreed to provide £10,000 to run an interim service.
Angry residents are now in talks with councillors and Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski about a last ditch bid to save the Number Seven which is due to cease running in November.
Now Councillor Dr Maxwell Winchester is calling the decision in for review by Shropshire Council’s scrutiny committee.
Cllr Winchester said: “Residents are very angry about this decision and have asked me to call it in to scrutiny which I will be doing.”
Sharon Thomas, a resident of Berwick Avenue, said some of her neighbours who will be affected by a cut to the service had contacted Shropshire Council about their concerns as to how the decision was taken.
“We believe the decision wasn’t made fairly and I know four or five people have sent letters into Shropshire Council but they’ve not had any acknowledgement yet.
“The main complaints are against the council officer at the meeting, people feel he shouldn’t have had so much say. It was pretty much evident the decision had already been made,” she added.
Mrs Thomas said residents had other concerns about how the long, drawn-out decision to axe the service was made.
Original suggestions to save the service included sharing a route with a bus through Greenfields, and also running a less frequent service.
“The route is subsidised at about £1.80 a passenger and Shropshire Council said they would subsidise anything up to £4,” she said.
Andy Goldsmith, lead officer for the Severn Loop LJC, said: “Following consideration of the information available to them, the LJC committee members felt they could no longer support funding of the community bus. The council is satisfied that the meeting was conducted appropriately.”
By Anna Williams