Stratford-on-Avon on-demand bus service gets reprieve

UBUS has been serving people in Stratford-on-Avon since 2014

An on-demand bus service will keep running after a council agreed to find £60,000 from its reserves to fund it.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council said it had faced losing the service because of a hold-up in agreeing a new contract.

UBUS serves people with health or mobility issues and those who lack access to regular buses.

The service is also used by school children with special educational needs and disabilities.

A report to the council explained that Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for public transport in the area wanted to "align this with their other demand responsive transport services".

But as it was unlikely this could be done before the current contract ends, Stratford-on-Avon district councillors agreed to keep it running for the time being.

They hope a new deal can be agreed by August, so the service can continue when the new school year begins in September 2024.

There could be changes, however, with the county council looking at reducing the number of buses from five to three, introducing a scheduled service into Stratford town and cutting back where there is less demand.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.