West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has offered her support to county councillors carrying out a review into the way bus services are delivered. Worcestershire County Council is expected to get £2million of extra funding for local bus services as part of this month’s Spending Round. The council is currently reconsidering the way bus services are subsidised as part of a wider consultation into the way local people are able to access public and community transport schemes. The MP has written to Councillor Alan Amos offering her support for the consultation and urging him to look at using regulatory powers to ensure that there is proper competition for services. Harriett also welcomed the introduction of a new service for residents living around Malvern Vale operated by Community Action, which will help people get around Malvern during the day time. Harriett commented: “The consultation is looking at how we can get the most from public subsidies to deliver the best possible services and this will inevitably involve using more alternatives like community transport. “Councillor Amos agrees with me that we should do more to protect services for the vulnerable and elderly to try and reduce the risk of social isolation in rural areas. “He also confirmed the good news that county hall is expecting to receive around £2 million from the extra bus money awarded by the Chancellor this month. “I am pleased to see the introduction of new services such as the new ‘Dyson-Linker’ service which will help people – especially the elderly – to make planned trips such as shopping or GP appointments. “But recent news about First Bus service reductions is a clear sign that the county needs to ensure it is using all of its powers to make sure there is proper competition for services. “Recent price rises and service changes show that at least one operator is not responsive to consumer needs and I have written both to the bus company and the county council to make sure this matter is correctly investigated and remedied.”