Express & Star

Campaigners queuing up to show anger at Dudley bus shake-up

Bus passengers are angry over plans to shake-up transport routes in parts of Dudley.

Published
Not stopping? Residents show their anger at plans which could curb bus services in Dudley

Among the routes which could change include 16, which runs through Himley, and 17, which runs through Lower Gornal.

National Express West Midlands is proposing the changes to streamline bus services and create new direct links between towns.

However this has affected some people who would need to catch two buses, under the proposals, in order to get to work.

WATCH: Campaigners line road for bus protest

Staffordshire County Councillor Victoria Wilson who represents Kinver Division, which covers Himley, said: "The revised bus route would change to travel through Swindon which already has a bus route going through it, and would by-pass Himley altogether, not just parts of Himley, as National Express is saying.

"The problem is, there are people who work at some of the care homes here - Himley Mill, The Limes and Holbeache House nearby - who rely on this bus service.

"The trouble is, National Express figures state that only 16 people use the bus to get to Stourbridge per day, and 22 people go to Wolverhampton per day.

"But they haven’t counted the people who come from other towns to work in Himley, so these figures are inaccurate.

"And what about the children who take the bus to schools in Wombourne and Wolverhampton?

Quite the queue of people wanting to back a campaign against the scaling back of bus services

"Most worrying of all is that there are older people, some of whom are in their 80s, who have caught the bus since they were young children, and have always used it to get around.

"To stop this absolutely essential service through Himley would cause rural and social isolation for many residents and cannot be allowed to happen.”

Campaigners in Plantation Lane, Himley

In Lower Gornal, the proposals would see the 17 bus scrapped.

A petition has been launched against these plans.

Gornal ward councillor Anne Millward said: "People are up in arms about this.

"National Express is saying this service has a low usage - but that is because it is unreliable and buses are often late.

"The youngsters who go to King Edwards College in Stourbridge and people travelling to Stourbridge Junction for the train will now have to catch two buses by stopping off at Wall Heath and Kingswinford. It is just unacceptable."

A public consultation on the changes has been held.