West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin is gearing up for significant improvements to bus services between Worcester and Malvern after the confirmation of extra cash to improve provision.

Worcestershire County Council will be able to use an extra £9.4 million to improve local services and the MP is planning to meet with the local transport team to press for enhancement to the service linking Malvern and the city.

Dame Harriett has also campaigned for the return of the X43 service, running to the west of Malvern, which was withdrawn during the pandemic and she has called for investment to enhance services across her rural constituency.

The MP quizzed the Secretary of State in the House of Commons about funding which will help to improve bus services following the cancellation of part of the HS2 rail project. The Minister confirmed that the county council will be able to invest nearly £10 million supporting projects like the enhanced 44 route and the return of the X43 service.

Dame Harriett said:

“I’ve been campaigning for several years to get improvements to the service between Worcester and Malvern and the last Government pledged £209 million to deliver major local transport improvements.

“Constituents regularly share their concerns with me about the lack of decent bus services and I have lobbied for later evening buses along the 44 route and better coverage at weekends as well as the much-needed return of the X43 route,

“I have been trying to get a meeting with the county council to understand how the team plans to spend this extra money and I’ll be hoping for some positive news soon.”