A NEW interim bus service has started in Ludlow after Shropshire Council was force to step in.

The interim service, that began on Monday (January 27), comes following the termination of two routes, the 701 and 722, by current operator R and B Travel.

It is being provided by Minsterley Motors, a Shropshire based travel company which already operates in the Ludlow area, running the Ludlow to Shrewsbury service.

Plans were brought forward to provide cover from when R and B withdrew their service last week to minimise the impact on users.

“The most important thing is that there will be no disruption in service and that the local people still have a bus to use,” said Claire Wilding, the cabinet member for transport with Ludlow Council.

“I’m proud of the way our team at the council have worked to ensure that this is the case –especially to be ready at such short notice – and credit must go to Minsterley Motors for stepping in to help.

“These are of course interim arrangements – which we appreciate is not a like for like replacement of the current service – while we look at the options for the service.”

The Minsterley Motors bus which will be running the route will have a low floor to help access.

Ludlow Town Council campaigned for Shropshire Council to step in after concern about the services that had been run on a commercial basis.

However, rules involving the Transport Commissioner meant that it could not provide a subsidised service in competition with a commercial provider.