Category: Social exclusion

Shropshire Council reconsiders bus cuts – that’s good news but we await the details

Shropshire Council reconsiders bus cuts – that’s good news but we await the details

Update On 12 June, the Cabinet agreed the following: Local Bus Services To not implement the reduction or removal of services as consulted, but where the consultation feedback has highlighted genuine efficiencies or cost pressures those will be focussed upon.   To amend the Council’s 2019/20 budget and reduce the planned reduction in the public transport budget from £405,000 to £180,000. Future Public Transport Services To commence a review of the current operation and future opportunities for, improved public transport services across Shropshire, including reviewing concessionary travel and the opportunities for bus franchising. The Cabinet also recommended increases on some Shrewsbury park and ride charges but deferred other increases until they have been reviewed.

Shropshire Council is withdrawing support for the county’s rural communities (updated)

Shropshire Council is withdrawing support for the county’s rural communities (updated)

The council customer service point in Ludlow Library is open four days a week. But plans are afoot to reduce its opening to two days a week, Tuesday and Friday. This will mean that vulnerable people will find it harder to access support and get referrals to the food bank. Age Concern told the Shropshire Star that the countywide cuts will be a serious blow for the elderly. Other cuts to community support are on the way. Shropshire Council is no longer interested in supporting the rural communities in our county.

No lifts in Ludlow station upgrade. No fully accessible taxi in town. We should stop treating the disabled as second class

No lifts in Ludlow station upgrade. No fully accessible taxi in town. We should stop treating the disabled as second class

Major works are underway at Ludlow station. The scheme is to put a temporary footbridge in place while the old footbridge is repaired along with the steps leading up to it. There are no plans to install lifts for those who are disabled or have limited mobility. A couple of weeks before, Shropshire Council refused a licence for the only fully disabled access taxi in Ludlow because it did not meet the Euro 5 standard. You can’t get into a Ludlow Town Council meeting if you have severe mobility problems. In Shropshire, the disabled remain second-class citizens. We must change this.

Cuts become cruel as Shropshire Council moves to reduce payments to needy adults

Cuts become cruel as Shropshire Council moves to reduce payments to needy adults

Is this a necessary cut or just a cruel cut? Shropshire Council is scheming to reduce the minimum income guarantee for the neediest adults. Of course, budgets are tight. Other councils pay less to needy people than Shropshire. So as always, Shropshire Council is following the pack to the back rather than leading from the front. We should support the most vulnerable and impoverished in our society, not pay council executives more.

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