A HOST of Redditch bus services could be axed in the coming months due to a lack of funding and reduced passenger number.

Yesterday, The Advertiser revealed that the Diamond Bus network in Redditch is ‘heavily loss-making and services could be considerably reduced from the end of August.

It has now been confirmed which bus services are at risk of the chop.

Services at risk of cuts from August 28

11 – Redditch to Washford Mill via The Alexandra Hospital

12 – Redditch to Astwood Bank via The Alexandra Hospital

52A – The Alexandra Hospital to Princess of Wales Hospital, Bromsgrove

62 – Redditch Circular via Matchborough

67 – Redditch to Studley via The Alexandra Hospital, Lakeside and Greenlands

247 – Redditch to Evesham via The Alexandra Hospital, Studley, Alcester

Services at risk of cuts from July 24

812 – Redditch to Ridgeway School via The Alexandra Hospital

X20 – Stratford On Avon to Coventry via Alcester, Studley, Henley in Arden (the service is at risk of only operating between Solihull and Coventry)

S83 – Redditch to North Bromsgrove High via Alvechurch, Barnt Green

S85 – Crabbs Cross to Studley High School via Webheath, Redditch

Government funding which enabled bus services to operate during the Covid pandemic is set to end later this year.

Diamond Bus said they have been in communication with both the local authorities and the Department of Transport to conder the “consequences of funding removal”.

The bus operator said passenger numbers are still “dramatically lower than pre-Covid levels” meaning a “large proportion of bus services across the region are not commercially viable.”

A spokesperson said: “Accelerating operating costs and reductions in patronage, means that a large proportion of bus services across the region are not commercially viable, and without the intervention of additional subsidy will need to be reviewed for either service reduction or withdrawal altogether.

“Ultimately, we are committed to growing our services to keep communities moving.

“As we move forward from a very difficult period during Covid we want to encourage passengers back to support their local bus network.

“We have continued investing in our business to provide a strong local network, but in order to maintain that long term, we need passenger levels to return to how they were before the pandemic.”