PLANS are afoot for a 13-week trial community bus to be introduced to a village near Worcester.

Cllr Martin Allen, Worcestershire County councillor for the division of Croome, has been asked about funding and running a community bus in Kempsey.

The route would see pick-up locations at St Peters Garden Centre, Tesco, Aldi and possibly Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Haresfield House Surgery and City Walls Road in Worcester.

Cllr Allen said: "Following a very useful meeting with your parish councillors in Kempsey, and your two district councillors David Harrison and John Michael, I have agreed to work with officers at the county council to see what, if anything, can be achieved.

"We would need to initially carry out a 13-week trial, there would be one simple trip there and back on either a Thursday or Friday morning.

"There were many options discussed and the general consensus was that this pick-up from your door service would need to try and travel to more than one location."

The service would see a charge of £2 for a return ticket for those with a bus pass, and £4 for those without a bus pass.

Cllr Mike Rouse, the cabinet member for highways and transport at Worcestershire County Council, called the plans a "local priority".

He said: “I am aware this is a local priority following discussions at the recent Bus Travel Task Force that I established late last year.

"The county council works with a range of community transport providers already, so we will be happy to explore options in Kempsey, though as Cllr Allen has already said nothing is set in stone.

"We are always open to ideas and collaborations as we look to enhance and secure bus services across Worcestershire.” 

Cllr Allen has called on the Kempsey community to look at the proposed route and give their opinions on whether they feel the service would be of benefit to the community.

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He said: "It would be most welcome if you could look at the proposed route and give a brief opinion.

"Please do not stray into the general subject of the lack of buses and provision for our villages. I am very much aware of that and I raise this subject whenever I can at County Hall.

"The timings from dropping off and picking back up are also to be considered.

"Nothing is set in stone, and this is only the start of the journey."