Bus services could be cut if people don’t start using them, a county MP has warned.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin is urging residents to get back on the buses in an effort to halt the decline of public transport provision in the area.

Mrs Baldwin said: “The bus service operators are clearly struggling but I have been disappointed by the way some of the companies just want to cherry-pick the high-performing routes.

“Many bus services, particularly in rural areas, offer a lifeline for people who aren’t able to travel for study, shopping or work under their own steam.

“Nevertheless, the numbers don’t lie and people still aren’t choosing to use the bus to get to and from work, college and the shops in sufficient numbers to make the routes profitable.

“But my message to passengers is, as is always has been. Use it, or lose it. The bus industry needs people to return to buses and I hope that the county council will be able to motivate people to choose buses rather than car journeys as they look to deliver on the county’s, and the planet’s, net-zero ambitions.”

Mrs Baldwin’s plea comes as Worcestershire County Councillor Mike Rouse confirmed that almost every service is being run at a loss, including every route in West Worcestershire.

Councillor Rouse took over as cabinet member for highways and transport in May, giving him responsibility for county bus service provision.

He believes that fewer young people using buses, greater car ownership amongst pensioners, and a rise in online shopping have contributed to the decline in demand for bus services across the UK, which began with the financial crisis of 2008.

The pandemic then caused further complications, with user numbers still down 30 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.

As such, the councillor is carrying out a three-step approach as he looks to ‘review, enhance, and secure’ the county’s bus network.

He said: “I am acutely aware that even with the reduced demand situation it could still be around 15 per cent of the population who are bus users and rely on local services. 

“The county council is doing everything we can to provide assurance and encouragement to the travelling public that we are serious about improvements and making the buses a viable choice for everyone, not just those who have come to depend on them.

“It is very difficult to get a service back once it has gone.”