West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has asked local bus users to have their say as the county develops a £3.4 million plan to improve services.

The Government confirmed the funding last month enabling Worcestershire County Council to plan to improve local bus service provision.

Harriett met with Malvern Link County Councillor Karen Hanks to discuss the recent decline of the local bus services and to identify areas where bus services should be enhanced.

The MP called on local people to write in to suggest areas where the county council should be focusing on improving services.

Harriett said:

“I welcome this huge boost to our local bus funding and also welcome the ‘Get Around for £2’ fares, but local people tell me they need better bus connections to use buses more. 

“North Malvern wants its bus route back and the bus stop I visited in Leigh Sinton only gets four buses a day, with the earliest one to Worcester at 10:26.

“I met with the managing director of First Bus earlier in the year and he pledged to add extra services to the 44 route but there are still huge swathes of West Worcestershire that are currently left without decent provision.

“The county council has launched an excellent, innovative bus-on-demand service but the coverage areas need fine-tuning and this is a great opportunity for local people to have their say.

“If we are to make progress on our net zero targets, we must make it much easier for people to jump on bikes, buses and trains to make their commuter and leisure journeys.

“Worcestershire County Council has a huge pot of cash to support local bus services and I am eager to hear from my constituents about where they think the council should focus its efforts to get more people back onto buses.”

Photo: Pictured at the Leigh Sinton bus stop: Harriett Baldwin MP (left) and Councillor Karen Hanks.