A BOLD bid for better bus services across Evesham and the county as a whole has been backed by town Labour chiefs who have urged fed-up commuters to make their voices heard about local public transport.
Members of Evesham Labour Party joined residents from across Worcestershire last Thursday (September 5) in a day of action calling for better buses in the county.
The campaign was launched in Worcester by the Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald MP last month and members have been collecting signatures for a petition, which will call on Worcestershire County Council to properly fund bus services to address social isolation, environmental issues, equality of access to employment and public services, and traffic congestion.
Members of the local party gathered on the High Street bus stops to collect signatures for the petition and find out what improvements local residents want to see.
Among the areas for improvement were better services for villages, better early morning and late evening services for workers and those coming in Evesham of an evening and better direct routes to Redditch, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
Labour chiefs claim Worcestershire County Council has cut funding for bus services from £5.6million in 2010/11 to just £1.8million for 2018/19 and were set to hand in the petition at the County Council meeting on Thursday (September 12).
Campaigner Helen Russell said: “People in Evesham desperately need better bus services to get to local amenities, work, college or just to socialise.
“Due to Government cuts the County Council has severely reduced Worcestershire’s bus services, which has had a negative impact on people’s lives and the local economy.
“We are calling on the County Council to prioritise investment in our public transport infrastructure so people across Worcestershire get better buses, better lives and a better environment. Labour plans to change the way local bus services are run.
“People will be given a say in planning routes to ensure services better support the community and local economy,” she added.
