West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed plans to use technology to boost the County's community bus network.

Private bus operators have been withdrawing from services across Worcestershire leaving commuters and shoppers left without reliable public transport options.

But Harriett met with Worcestershire County Councillor Mike Rouse to hear about plans to roll out a mobile phone application which will allow people to access bus services on demand.

The technology will mean that the thriving community transport network will be able to access the market, increasing choice for local people.

Worcestershire County Council is trialling the technology in Bromsgrove before rolling it out to the whole county.

Harriett said:

“I have been complaining about bus service provision for many years but this issue has been exacerbated by the pandemic and seriously declining demand for bus services.

“People are not popping back onto the bus and I hope that the use of innovative technological solutions will help stimulate more demand.

“I’m also keen to see more support for the community transport network, which plays an important role helping vulnerable groups of people to get out and about.

“It recent weeks I have met with two thriving community transport schemes and it is clear to me that they have capacity to grow. I hope that they will be able to exploit this opportunity in the market that is currently being ignored by the large bus operators.

“It we are to achieve our net zero ambitions, we must look to use our private cars less and opt for cleaner, greener solutions.

“I was heartened to see Teme Wheels buying an electric vehicle in its fleet and I hope this is the sign of things to come – with large, empty diesel buses becoming a thing of the past.”

Photo: Councillor Mike Rouse with Harriett Baldwin MP