EYMS has confirmed that all Whittle’s local bus registrations have been cancelled with the required 56 days’ notice, effective on January 5, 2015, with the only purely commercial route (2A/2C) having already been withdrawn on December 15.
Parts of this route and most of the others, which were already operated wholly or mainly under contact to Worcestershire and Shropshire County Councils, were put out for re-tender. The 101 Bridgnorth Town Service supported by Shropshire Council has already been transferred to Arriva, while Central Buses is taking on the Stourbridge-Kidderminster section of the 125 (which runs from Stourbridge to Bridgnorth) on a commercial basis.
David Shipp, General Manager of Whittle’s, said: “While I am very disappointed that our trading position has left Whittles in a situation where we are unable to continue operating in the area, I am pleased that both Worcestershire and Shropshire Councils, both of whom have been very supportive, are able to ensure that all local bus links are maintained, albeit at reduced frequencies on certain routes, enabling members of the public to have the confidence that their bus services will remain
“I would like to thank my colleagues here for the commitment they have shown since the announcement was made which has helped ensure that this difficult period has been made as easy for everyone as it possibly could have been.”
