Residents to be surveyed on community bus service

Residents of Whittington are to be asked if they want a community transport service.

Members of Whittington Parish Council agreed to conduct an informal survey of parishioners to get their views.

It follows a presentation to the Whittington councillors by Norton-juxta-Kempsey parish councillor John Waizeneker on the Norton Connector service.

That was introduced to fill the gap left by the scrapping of services by the major bus operating companies.

It enables people, particularly those without cars, to get into Worcester.

During a meeting of Whittington Parish Council chairman Steve Brooker said: “I think before we go any further we need to do a survey of some sort.”

Vice-chairman Richard Boase said: “So many people have cars. I think, without doing a survey, there wouldn’t be any demand for it.”

Parish councillor Adam Hooper, however, said: “I think there are a lot of families who don’t have a car. I think it’s worth asking the question.”

Ahead of conducting any official survey Mr Brooker asked parish councillors to try and gauge feeling among residents for a potential community transport service.

An open question would also be posted on the parish council’s website and Facebook page.

n The Norton Connector community bus service could go electric.

The possibility of introducing an electric vehicle to the service was raised during a meeting of Norton-juxta-Kempsey Parish Council.

Parish councillor John Waizeneker, who leads on the project, said Worcester Wheels, which operates the service linking residents of Littleworth and Norton with Worcester, was looking into the potential for an electricity-powered bus.

In his update on the Norton Connector Mr Waizeker said charges for running the service had been reduced, enabling it to be extended for additional months running into next year.

Passenger numbers had continued at a rate of between 50 to 70 journeys made each month.