Roads so bad passengers ‘jolted awake' as they drive over border into Herefordshire

Yahoo

03-04-2025

Herefordshire's ambitions to improve its bus services face huge challenges, not least from the state of its roads, a local operator has warned.
Based on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border, Forest Coaches has been operating since 2019 – during which 'I have noticed roads in Herefordshire get steadily worse,' managing director Simon Hayes said.
The difference between Herefordshire and neighbouring Powys is now so stark that passengers are jolted awake when crossing into England, he said.
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'Modern cars are incredibly good at soaking up shocks from poor road surfaces. Low-floor buses are not. Old people must hate travelling on them.'
Besides the county's notorious potholes, unmaintained overhanging vegetation 'is even more of a concern', particularly in the dark, when strikes can not only cause costly damage to vehicles, but also give drivers and passengers 'the fright of their lives'.
So there are strong disincentives for bus companies to invest in vehicles and services, he said.
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'You need to have more vehicles so you can bring out a spare. But why spend £350,000 on a new bus to have it wrecked in turn?'
The problem is compounded by a lack of drivers – a national problem made worse in the Welsh Marches due to the absence of large operators training up new entrants.
Forest Coaches faces severe challenges, boss Simon Hayes says (Image: ROB DAVIES) Meanwhile, 'the average age of drivers in Herefordshire is around 65, when you are more susceptible to ailments', Mr Hayes said. 'More are hanging up their keys than taking them up.'
Despite the Government's notional support for bus transport, it has for some years offered free training for new lorry drivers but not for bus and coach drivers, while bus and coach mechanics are also thin on the ground, he added.
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Meanwhile regulatory changes from August will put the same accessibility obligations on bus hire operators as regular bus firms, adding further to costs, he said.
'This will force some operators out of business, probably including ourselves,' Mr Hayes warned.
Herefordshire Council was asked how it plans to spend the £1.1 million it is due to receive from the Government to improve bus services in the county. It plans a strategic 'bus summit' later in the year.