Letter: Don't keep users in dark over Shropshire Link service future

Turning the page I read about the salaries of our beloved councillors who will not understand just how important the Link bus is to its users. Many of them are just pensioners on small incomes with no other means of transport.

Thanks should be given to the staff who reported this issue to the newspaper. The council say that the matter is still under review, yet the bus drivers have apparently been told that their contract will end in November/December. It is a typical ploy by employers, keep everybody in the dark.

The Council's own web page states that the 'Shropshire Link is a bus service designed to provide transport in all rural areas of Shropshire'. Do the rural areas of Shropshire now cease to exist?

Over the past five years the planning and operation of the system as controlled by the control centre has wasted so much money. When trying to book a journey one can be told that there is no room on the bus so you will have to go on a later bus. Yet those travelling say the bus had plenty of empty seats.

There have been a number of occasions when a bus would come into our village to pick up a passenger and take them to their destination and return to the village to pick up more passengers to go to the same destination. Both sets of passenger were happy to travel together if asked.

Why do I say that the drivers are the real ambassadors for the council? Because they have and use common sense. Secondly and more importantly they are staff who will go to lengths to aid elderly passengers and invalids, they put people first. Any employer should be proud of them. The fear for villagers of losing their link to the town will have a great affect on them.

So, if it's true that there has not been a decision made then councillors hear the feeling of your drivers, and the public who use of the Link service. How do those who use the Link who do not own cars get to the shops etc? What are your plans for the bus passes? Don't keep us in the dark.

Eric Tarrant

Fauls

Whitchurch