THE free bus travel initiative for the Saturday town service in Oswestry, to be provided by Oswestry Town Council and Tanat Valley Buses, will start this weekend.

Following Oswestry Town Council agreement to run the project until March 2023 at its May meeting, a free bus travel initiative on the Saturday town service will be available free of charge from June 4 and will be provided by local business and operator Tanat Valley Buses.

Oswestry's mayor Councillor Jay Moore welcomed the arrival of the free service.

He said: "It is hoped that residents will use the bus service to reach local activity in the town, whether for picking up shopping supplies or supporting our local events taking place.

"The approach aims to encourage residents to use local transport infrastructure and reduce car travel into and around the town."

The proposal as it stands is to offer free bus travel on the 400 (Aston Way- Llys Road), 402 (Balmoral Crescent – Windsor) ,403 (Hampton Road Circular) and the 404 (Vyrnwy Drive to Old Fort Road) town centre services in Oswestry each Saturday and will be reviewed early next year.

A council spokesman said: "The commencement of the free bus travel initiative ties in with Jubilee weekend and a busy events calendar forthcoming in the town across the summer months including the charity market, Oswestry Community Games, Festival in the Park, Wellness Event, Oswestry Food Festival and Oswestry Balloon Carnival, among others.

"Alongside this the council is looking to discuss the possibility of reconfiguring the existing provision to meet local need and demand and seeking discussion with Shropshire Council in relation to this.

"This would look at where people are needing to get to, for everyday activities between the town and community facilities and key infrastructure."