Fears of bus service cuts have prompted a town council to ask county MPs for help.

Pershore Town Council expressed fears that rural services will be cut following the county council’s failed £84 million bid for its Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The town council believe the bid failed due to a “lack of ambition” and is concerned that rural Worcestershire received nothing while more urban areas, such as the West Midlands, received millions.

Town mayor Julian Palfrey said: “Cuts in services and the failure to secure funding will have serious consequences for those who rely on public transport, but it also calls into question the government’s commitment to become net zero on carbon emissions by 2050.

“Adequate public transport is imperative in the goal to gain net zero status with 24 per cent of Pershore’s carbon footprint coming from travel mainly through the use of private transport.”

READ MORE: Fears over lack of funding for rural bus services

Now, the town council is asking county MPs to ensure adequate funding for the county’s network.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “The county was not successful with the bid for the first round of funding to improve bus services but it is getting feedback from the Department for Transport before bidding again.

“I am particularly keen to see improved investment in public transport to help people of all ages but it is essential that people use their local service to ensure that bus operators continue to run their services.

“I am also aware of plans to trial on-demand community transport services and I feel that it is time for the county council to identify creative solutions to protect and improve rural connectivity, by foot, bike and public transport.”

READ MORE: Worcestershire left with nothing as entire £86m bid to improve buses is rejected

Mrs Baldwin added that she met with county councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport, to discuss rural bus services and the council’s bid.

Councillor Amos said: “The bid we put in was very ambitious.

“We were staggered and hugely disappointed not to get a penny, but we weren’t the only ones.

“We have asked the Department for Transport what was wrong with our bid, but I don’t think anything was.

“We have a plan B, which we came up with before the pandemic, and it is also very ambitious.”

This plan includes introducing multi-operator and multi-modal tickets and improving services in rural areas.

A First Worcester spokesperson stated that the failed bid will not result in cuts as the bid was only aimed to "enhance" the existing services.

However, a number of changes were introduced to several county services this week.