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Call for more to use summer park and ride

Rob Trigg
BBC political reporter, Shropshire
BBC Ginger-haired man with a ginger beard, wearing a navy suit and white shirt, smiling in front of a blue single-decker bus, with a car park and hills in the background BBC
Councillor Vickers said the Ironbridge Gorge park and ride was cheaper than parking in the area

Telford and Wrekin Council is calling for more people to use its summer park and ride service into the Ironbridge Gorge.

Only 1,331 people used it over nine weekends last summer, from 20 July to 15 September, including the bank holiday Monday - about 70 people a day.

The councillor in charge of transport at the Labour-run authority said the service took congestion out of the gorge, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ollie Vickers said the park and ride was also cheaper than parking in the area, although the cost of an adult ticket has doubled to £2 for 2025.

Telford and Wrekin Council subsidised the privately-run service last year at a cost of £20,000.

The council said its contribution would reduce if more people used it.

"It is a political choice that we've made to run this service," said Cllr Vickers.

"But it's worth it because it benefits the local economy and we're really passionate to make sure our high streets are thriving places.

"The more people that use the service, then the income from fares is offset against that cost," he added.

Telford and Wrekin Council A graffitied hut of an iron bridge with grassy banks over a river. There is also a painting of a large kingfisher. The hut is on a car park with the sun setting behind a hill in the background Telford and Wrekin Council
A local artist has graffitied the bus drivers' toilet and canteen at the Jiggers Bank car park

The 2025 timetable will begin on Saturday, with three services an hour from the Jiggers Bank car park near Lightmoor, from 10:00 to 18:00.

Adult tickets have risen from £1 to £2, although a child's ticket, priced at 50p last year, is now free.

Travellers with concessionary passes, such as pensioners and those with disabilities, will also be able to use the service without having to pay.

Telford and Wrekin Council is also using the park and ride this year to transport passengers into the gorge for organised events outside the main season.

These included the World War Two Festival held in May and the Ironbridge Brass Band Festival, which took place last weekend.

More than 1,400 used it for the Brass Band Festival alone, preventing hundreds of cars from driving into Coalbrookdale.

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