CONTROVERSIAL plans to axe funding for vital bus services in Upton have been described as “crazy”.
Worcestershire County Council is considering scrapping a £3 million taxpayers’ subsidy for public transport as it explores ways to save £98 million by 2017.
A total of 88 services are currently subsidised, including the 41-43 and 362-364 services that carry more than 330,000 people a year between Upton, Malvern and Worcester.
Outraged Upton town councillor Les Roberts says the town is facing “a real crisis”
if those services are lost.
He slammed the county council for considering the proposals, saying “only people who have no need for public transport” could have come up with a policy like this. “This includes every single bus that stops in Upton. It is entirely possible the town will be left without any public bus services at all if this crazy plan is allowed to proceed,” he said. “There are many, many people in Upton and across the whole county who depend on bus services for their ordinary lives.
“There is a real chance that once these services are gone we will never get them back.
It is simply unimaginable to me the county council could consider this.”
Upton Town Council is backing Coun Roberts’ concerns and has voted unanimously to object to the subsidy being scrapped.
Mayor Peter Webb said: “I think it is absolutely appalling they should try to decimate the bus service in and out of Upton.”
Coun John Smith, county council cabinet member for highways, said financial challenges mean “tough decisions”
will have to be made.
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