Shrewsbury's Meole Brace park and ride given three-year reprieve

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 12:33 · Archive

Shropshire Council has secured funding to keep Shrewsbury's Meole Brace park and ride operating for three more years.

Shropshire Council has secured the Meole Brace park and ride service in Shrewsbury for at least three years, reversing a decision announced in June to close the site in November due to low usage. The reversal followed significant public opposition, with around 5,000 people signing a petition against closure and residents contacting councillors to express their objections.

The council had originally said closing the service would free up £521,000 annually to support other bus routes. Last month, the council announced it would seek a short-term solution. Now, additional income from increased parking charges has been identified to fund the service. The contract has been awarded to Hotspur Buses for an initial three-year period.

From 1 November, buses from Meole Brace will operate every 20 minutes, Monday to Saturday, running from 7.20am to approximately 6.20pm. The service forms part of a wider three-site park and ride offer alongside Oxon and Harlescott. All three sites will be operated by Hotspur Buses from 1 November 2026, with the other two sites retaining their enhanced daytime frequencies and benefiting from new evening services.

Rob Wilson, the Shropshire councillor responsible for transport, acknowledged how strongly people valued the service, particularly for journeys from the south of the town.

How it is being reported

• Shrewsbury park and ride that had been in line for the axe will run for at least three more yearsThe Meole Brace Park and Ride was due to be withdrawn from November 1 before Shropshire Council found more fundsShropshire Star · 14 Oct, 13:29
• Shrewsbury’s Meole Brace Park and Ride service secured for the next three yearsShropshire Council has today confirmed that the Meole Brace Park and Ride in Shrewsbury will continue operating from 1 November, following a review of the service and identification of additional funding.Shropshire Live · 14 Oct, 12:06
• Town's park and ride given three-year reprieveShropshire Council has announced the service will now remain open for at least the next three years.BBC Shropshire · 14 Oct, 11:52

In this story: Shropshire Council · Meole Brace · Shrewsbury · Hotspur Buses · Rob Wilson

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