Whitchurch Town Council deputy mayor Councillor Bev Duffy has urged residents in the town to take part in a consultation that could see a crucial bus service severely reduced.

Shropshire Council opened a consultation into a reduction of local bus service subsidies for the 2019/20 financial year on March 25, running until Monday, May 6.

There are two services in the town that are under threat from being cut – the 511 Whitchurch to Shrewsbury service via Wem and the 205 Whitchurch town service, which was saved in 2017 when Ellesmere-based business Lakeside Coaches stepped in.

Cllr Duffy wants people to try to help save the services in their current form by taking part.

"I urge residents of Whitchurch to get involved with the latest public transport consultation," she said.

"Shropshire Council are looking at cutting some of the services on the 511 bus service from Whitchurch to Shrewsbury and return, along with some of the times of the town bus.

"Whitchurch Town Council appeals to local people to make their views knows, either online at Shropshire Council website ‘Get Involved’, or by writing to them.

"Shropshire Council are looking to public transport to help identify £405,000 budget reductions and requested bus operators providing services to give details of the level of service they could provide on each of the routes with a reduction in funding.

"Therefore, we are urging you to get involved and make your opinions known, tell Shropshire Council what you think about the cuts to our local bus services."

The proposals for Whitchurch are to reduce the 511 from a one- to two-hourly service while the peak journey in the morning will operate to Shrewsbury and not to Whitchurch.

It is also proposing the removal of four journeys per day – 0749, 1149, 1349 and 1749 – for the Whitchurch Town service.

Simon Harris, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for public transport, said: “It’s well known that as a result of central government funding cuts we need to make significant savings in many of our service areas, and this includes public transport.

"Under these proposals the number of bus journeys in the county would be reduced, and we recognise the potential impact of this on bus users and local communities.

“We have to operate within our budget, but as part of these proposals we are also looking to the future and are looking at how we can provide the best possible transport service in the years ahead."

To take part in the consultation, go to shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved or write Public Transport Consultation, Passenger Transport Services, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND.