Free fortnight for Shrewsbury park and ride to encourage shoppers back into town
A park and ride service will be free to use for two weeks from next week.
Services in Meole Brace and Harlescott will resume from Monday, April 26, and will be free until to Saturday, May 8 to encourage people to visit the town centre and support the town’s businesses as lockdown measures are eased.
The Oxon park and ride service is due to start operating again in the near future. The Oxon buses are currently being used to provide free transport to Shrewsbury’s vaccination centres.
Buses will operate from the Meole Brace site every 20 minutes, Monday to Saturday, from 7.20am until 6.20pm. The last departure from High Street is 6.30pm.
Buses will operate from the Harlescott site every 20 minutes from 7.20am until 6.20pm. The last departure from Castle Street is 6.30pm.
With social distancing capacity reductions, the vehicles have an advisory capacity of 17 passengers – although the drivers won’t leave behind vulnerable passengers, and will carry over the advisory capacity if required to do so.
The free park and ride follows the provision of free parking in Shropshire Council car parks for two weeks, ending on Sunday, April 25.
Steve Brown, Shropshire Council’s head of environment and transport services, said: “We are keen to encourage local bus use and as part of this from Monday both the Harlescott and Meole Brace park and ride services will be in operation, and will be free to use. This will help enable and encourage more workers, shoppers and visitors to travel in and out of the town centre and support our local businesses.
“The health and safety of drivers and passengers is a priority, and all appropriate guidance will be followed to ensure that people can use the service safely.”
