Meole Brace Park and Ride in Shrewsbury to continue operations with new funding
Shropshire Council develops long-term strategy alongside service continuity.
Shropshire Council has announced that the Meole Brace Park and Ride in Shrewsbury will remain operational starting 1st November 2026, following a successful review and additional funding for the service.
The contract has been awarded to Hotspur Buses for an initial three-year period, providing stability for passengers as the council explores a longer-term strategy for the Park and Ride network across Shrewsbury.
Beginning 1st November, Meole Brace buses will run every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday, commencing at 7.20am into Shrewsbury town centre and concluding at around 6.20pm.
Funds raised from adjustments to parking charges last November have been allocated to maintain the Meole Brace service, while the broader Park and Ride strategy undergoes development.
Meole Brace complements services at Oxon and Harlescott, ensuring frequent connections into Shrewsbury. All services will be operated by Hotspur Buses starting this November.
Both Oxon and Harlescott sites will retain their enhanced daytime frequencies, with buses every 12 minutes at peak times, alongside new evening services operating every 20 minutes until approximately 10pm.
The evening routes will function as stopping services, offering boarding and alighting along the journey, building on the success of the earlier night bus trial.
Investment in Oxon and Harlescott continues, enhancing passenger facilities within Shropshire Council's efforts to improve public transport.
Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, expressed satisfaction at safeguarding the Meole Brace Park and Ride service.
The next three years offer a timeframe to analyse user patterns across all sites, enabling strategy development to reduce road traffic into Shrewsbury and judiciously utilise funding.
From 1st November 2026, Shrewsbury Park and Ride services will operate as follows:
Meole Brace: Every 20 minutes, Monday to Saturday; 7.20am is the first town-bound bus and the last bus from town is around 6.20pm.
Oxon and Harlescott: Daytime services every 12 minutes between 8am and 5pm.
Evening services: New journeys every 20 minutes from 5pm at both sites, Monday to Saturday, with final departures from town at around 10pm.