MORTIMER LINK BUS SERVICE

A new flexible demand responsive public transport service has just been launched in North Herefordshire.

The Mortimer Link service, which began on Monday, July 5, will be operated by Community Wheels, based in Leominster, and provide a new type of bus service to respond to the needs of passengers.

The new service covers the Mortimer Ward of Herefordshire, including Leintwardine, Lingen, and Adforton, extending to the borders with Shropshire and Powys.

Cllr Mike Wilson, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), said: “This new service offers exciting new transport opportunities for people in the isolated rural communities of North Herefordshire.

“I’m confident the new service will be of great benefit to the community and hope that they will take full advantage of it."

Journeys are provided from the area to surrounding towns, such as Ludlow, Leominster and Presteigne, and connections are offered into main line bus services to allow travel further a field.

Actual routes and times depend on bookings. The bus will call to pick people up at their home address wherever possible.

In addition, passengers can book the bus to take them locally anywhere within the Mortimer ward area.

Passengers calling the Mortimer Link Booking Line on 01568 620654 in advance, can arrange for the bus to pick them up and take them either to the designated destination of the service or to a suitable point within nominated zones.

All households in the Mortimer Ward will receive a copy of the leaflet telling them about the service in the post, further copies are available from a number of other outlets throughout the area.

The service operates five days a week, but the vehicle, which is fully accessible, is available for hire by local groups and parties on a self-drive hire basis in the evenings and at weekends.

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The Mortimer Link is part of the “Completing the Jigsaw Project” funded by the government's Rural Bus Challenge Competition, receiving additional support from the Countryside Agency as a National Demonstration Project, and is operated under contract to Herefordshire Council.