Council bids for Government cash to keep ‘vital’ bus routes running

Shropshire Council has asked the Government for financial support to keep “vital” bus routes running.

The call comes just weeks after the authority missed out on a £98m bid from the Bus Back Better fund which aims to “level up” transport outside London.

Last month, the local authority agreed to fund six routes until September after operator Arriva said it was cutting eight services, blaming high fuel costs and a shortage of drivers.

Routes in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Ludlow have all been affected.