On-demand travel to be launched at heritage site

A vehicle similar to one that will be used in the new year was on show at a drop-in event

An on-demand travel service is set to launch early next year at Shropshire's Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site.

Residents and visitors to the tourist attraction will be offered the best travel option for them via an app, including advice on whether to use the on-demand shuttle bus provision or existing bus routes.

Pick-up and drop-off locations would be "tailored to customers' preference", ensuring people with mobility issues would no longer have to walk to the nearest stop, Telford & Wrekin council said.

A drop-in event about the service was held on the Wharfage car park in Ironbridge on Tuesday.

"Demand-responsive transport" or DRT was a flexible service "offering a more convenient and efficient way to get around", the council said.

Initially, the facility will operate from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:30 GMT and be reviewed again ahead of the busier summer months.

The council said if successful, it hoped the format could be used elsewhere in Telford and Wrekin.

Labour councillor Ollie Vickers, cabinet member for the economy, said: "This is a very exciting pilot that will change the way we access public transport with a flexible, easy-to-use and customised travel solution for people around the Ironbridge Gorge area.

"This service will allow users to book journeys tailored to their specific needs, helping to improve local mobility and connectivity."

More detailed information will be available closer to the official launch next year and the app is called Travel Telford OnDemand.

A public transport officer for Telford & Wrekin Council, Dylan Lawson, has been promoting the scheme