Buses ’Tweak’ Leads to Support

Travel West Midlands withdrawal of the 158 service earlier in the summer met with public concern in the Pelsall/High Heath/Shelfield area of Walsall.Since then Travel West Midlands has attended a number of public meetings in the local area, organised by Walsall Councillor Marco Longhi. Councillor Longhi said today "I have been working closely with Travel West Midlands behind the scenes , so that we can try and achieve a level of service for this important area of Walsall, yet at the same time allow Travel West Midlands to operate a commercial service. What we have here is a classic partnership arrangement, based on the success of TWM forecasting, that will now allow the 997 service to be ’tweaked’ in a way that will provide a key service for Pelsall/High Heath/ Shelfield at a time that will bring most benefits to my constituents."Dave Donaldson General Manager Walsall added "We have been very pleased with the way that the service 997 has performed and we have seen a growth in patronage following the changes made. Now we are in a position where ’tweaking’ the frequency in the peaks of the 997 service can resolve the 158 problems that so upset people this summer when the 158 service was withdrawn. This extra 997 service will now detour and operate via the old 158 route from Bloxwich to Aldridge before taking up the normal line of route. This will take effect from the 7th January 2007."The morning departure will depart Bloxwich at 0719hrs, Pelsall Cenotaph 0729, Shelfield 0735, Aldridge 0748, arriving at Carrs Lane at 0840hrs. Another service will depart Bloxwich at 1603hrs. The morning departure from Birmingham will be at 0842, arriving at Bloxwich at 0951hrs. The evening departure will be at 1720hrs from Carrs Lane, arriving at Aldridge at 1809, Shelfield at 1819, Pelsall 1824 and Bloxwich at 1836. Dave Donaldson General Manager added "This additional service will be scrutinised under a garage review to gauge whether the demand is in fact there, this is scheduled to take place in April 2007.The message is a clear one ... use the service when it comes back on, or lose it!"

Published 7th November 2006