Ditherington is a suburb of the town of Shrewsbury , the county town of Shropshire , England . It is the fourth most deprived ward in the Shropshire unitary authority area .
31-535: There has been much regeneration work in the southern part of Ditherington, which is close to Shrewsbury town centre. Various residential developments have occurred, but little has been finished. Ditherington was the location of the Arriva Midlands (former Midland Red ) Shrewsbury bus depot until 2012, when it was replaced by a newly built one in Harlescott . The Ditherington depot was then demolished and acquired by
62-460: A handful of commercial routes operated. The company employed approximately 110 bus drivers. As of June 2012, the fleet consisted of: In the past the fleet was more varied. The original fleet consisted mostly of Leyland Nationals and Leopards, and Dodge minibuses were also popular. Choice's Managing Director, Tom Young, was never shy to experiment: unusual purchases were four Wright Urbanranger bodied Mercedes-Benz OH1416s, similar in body design to
93-509: A new ChaseLinx brand (similar to the Leicester Linx brand) was introduced, reflecting the purchase of Chase Coaches. In December 2007 Swadlincote depot closed with operations transferred to Burton upon Trent. In August 2008 the Hinckley depot and services were sold to Centebus Holdings . In January 2009 Shifnal depot closed while in the same month Bridgnorth reopened. In December 2010
124-450: A new partnership with Centro and Travel West Midlands to launch the new Showcase route branded "Superline". Superline ran along the main arterial route between Walsall-Leamore-Bloxwich and Mossley, using their own respective service numbers (Choice 171 and TWM 301). To demonstrate their commitment to the venture, Choice purchased four new low-floor Optare Excel buses for the route, displacing existing buses to other routes. Choice became
155-593: A part of Arriva Midlands During late 2018 they merged operations into the main Arriva Midlands business. Arriva announced in August 2021 after 64 years they will be closing their South Wigston depot during October 2021 with all services moving to Thurmaston depot. Arriva Midlands operate eleven depots as of January 2022 in: In 2017, four Arriva Shires & Essex depots ( Milton Keynes , Luton , Aylesbury and High Wycombe ), and their routes, were transferred into
186-460: A sister company, in September 2012 in preparation for the takeover by Arriva. The Tridents, having only recently received Midland livery, were repainted a few weeks after acquisition by Arriva into corporate colours but only survived a few months with Arriva. Subsequently, Wednesfield depot operated standard Arriva buses including a batch of ex-Arriva London Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250. A few of
217-561: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Arriva Midlands Arriva Midlands is a bus operator providing services in the East Midlands and West Midlands areas of England. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus . In September 1981 Midland Red North was formed with 230 buses operating from six depots in Shropshire , Staffordshire and the West Midlands as part of
248-538: The Wolverhampton and Walsall areas of the West Midlands . Some services also operated in the Staffordshire and Shropshire area. The company was originally started as Liyell Ltd trading as Midland Choice Travel established by ex- London Forest manager Tom Young and business partner Barrie Marsden in 1992 with two Leyland Leopard coaches and three Leyland Nationals in a lime green and yellow livery, from which
279-472: The "Midland Redline" fleetname after transfer to Midland Red North. The remaining parts of Arriva Midlands North were combined with Arriva Derby and Arriva Fox County to form Arriva Midlands. Buses still operate with Arriva Midlands North legal name (except Burton upon Trent which used Stevensons of Uttoxeter ). In February 2007 the business of Chase Coaches was purchased with 27 buses with operations integrated into Arriva's Cannock depot. In late 2007
310-462: The 1993 West Midlands Travel bus strike a fleet of 30 buses were hired from across the country to cover services. Soon after the strikes finished, Liyell dropped the "Midland" part of the Choice Travel name with an enlarged logo. During the late 1990s, Choice Travel acquired the business of Metropolitan Omnibus (formed by a group of former Stevensons managers) and its network of routes throughout
341-523: The Black Country on former Stevensons routes. The Metropolitan fleet of Mercedes and Dodge mini and midibuses soon sported the smart yellow of Choice, with the lime green and dark green exchanged for contrasting shades of blue. Former Stevensons MD and Metropolitan manager Julian Peddle bought a share in the company and it joined his "Status Bus & Coach Group" in 1999. As part of Choice Travel's commitment to public transport development, it embarked on
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#1732851525291372-571: The Chaserider brand from the end of service on 9 January 2021. In 1994 Derby City Transport was privatised and sold to British Bus . In August 1996 British Bus was purchased by the Cowie Group and the operation rebranded as Arriva Derby. Arriva previously had a depot in Burton Upon Trent until August 2016 when the operations passed to Midland Classic . In September 1981 Midland Red East
403-692: The Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings and other organisations. The restored building opened to the public in September 2022 with a new visitor experience centre, café, offices and hirable venue space. In the long term, it is hoped that the building will be able to make sufficient money to be self-supporting, but reaching this stage will require much investment. The Shrewsbury and Newport Canal terminated in Ditherington, but no longer exists. This may also one day be restored. This Shropshire location article
434-522: The Oswestry depot as a result of low patronage and financial difficulties following the Covid-19 pandemic. Most services operated from Oswestry would be moved to Shrewsbury and Arriva Buses Wales ' Wrexham depot if the planned closure is approved. The closure went ahead in early summer 2023. Midland (bus operator) Midland , previously known as Choice Travel , was a bus company operating mostly in
465-599: The Wednesfield depot closed with some services passing to Diamond Buses with nine vehicles and the remainder of vehicles reallocated to other depots. The depot had only reopened in March 2013 after a refurbishment. In 2017, four Arriva Shires & Essex depots ( Milton Keynes , Luton , Aylesbury and High Wycombe ), and their routes, were transferred into the management of Arriva Midlands. The vehicles were renumbered in late 2018 and early 2019 to avoid multiple vehicles having
496-737: The breakup of the Midland Red bus company. In May 1983 the Ludlow depot was closed. In January 1988 Midland Red North was sold to the Drawlane Transport Group. In November 1992 it was sold to British Bus which in August 1996 was sold to the Cowie Group . In 2003 the Arriva Midlands North garages in Crewe , Macclesfield and Winsford were transferred to Arriva North West . These had previously been operated by Crosville and had adopted
527-457: The business of Wardle Transport , Stoke-on-Trent was purchased with 64 buses, followed in June 2011 by the Staffordshire operations of D&G Bus with 30 buses that was integrated with Wardle Transport and in August 2012 Midland of Wednesfield from D&G Bus with 61 buses. In May 2015, D&G Bus purchased Wardle transport back from Arriva Midlands with 19 buses. On 23 April 2017
558-399: The company got its name (LIme green YELLow). They first operated from a depot on Watery Lane, Willenhall owned by Howell Galvanisers. The first bus services operated were route 171 ( Walsall - Leamore - Bloxwich - Mossley, and route 700 ( Perton - Codsall High School ). The original intention had been to develop services in either Leicester or Telford but the directors were persuaded that
589-909: The comparable Endurance bodies on the Volvo B10B , and the fore-runner to the low floor version of the Mercedes-Benz O405 , but which did not sell in large numbers following the advent of the low-floor bus. Young also purchased a pair of new step-entrance Northern Counties-bodied Dennis Darts for route 171; the ageing Leyland Nationals were withdrawn in favour of newer stock. The merger with Status Bus & Coach saw new types arrive, including Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Darts , Marshall bodied Dennis Falcons and former Ipswich Buses dual entrance Northern Counties bodied Dennis Falcons. Fleet additions in 2012 included two double-deck Dennis Trident 2 buses and three Scania OmniLinks, all from Nottingham City Transport. The OmniLinks were transferred to D&G Bus,
620-639: The completed acquisition by Arriva Midlands North of the business and assets of Liyell trading as Midland in January 2013. The company was previously owned by Stoke-on-Trent based company D&G Bus . The company also operates services in other parts of the West Midlands as well as Staffordshire , Worcestershire and Shropshire from its base in Wednesfield . The company operated mostly subsidised services, from Centro , Shropshire Council , Worcestershire County Council and Staffordshire County Council , with
651-400: The core of the new bus service network would best be the most lucrative route lifted from a major plan to develop and expand Midland Red North operations into the Black Country, route 171. "Midland Choice Travel", as the company was originally known, recruited ex- London Forest manager Steve Deveraux and Trent Buses manager Keith Shayshutt. Over the next few years the business thrived; during
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#1732851525291682-467: The management of Arriva Midlands. The vehicles were renumbered in late 2018 and early 2019 to avoid multiple Arriva Midlands vehicles sharing the same fleet numbers. In 2018 the Cannock depot began closing entirely on Sundays due to county council subsidy cuts, leaving Cannock without buses, with the Cannock depot being sold to D&G bus in January 2021. In 2023, Arriva announced that it planned to close
713-468: The nearby Flax Mill, but as of July 2024 is still a blank canvas. The Flax Mill (also locally known as the "Maltings") is the oldest iron-framed building in the world and is seen as the "grandfather of skyscrapers ". It was designed by Charles Bage and built in 1797 for John Marshall of Leeds and his partners. It is a Grade I listed building . After decades of being derelict, it was restored and rejuvenated by Historic England , in partnership with
744-559: The only one operated in the West Midlands. (West Midlands Travel only ever operated the original Leyland Lynx). On 10 August 2012, it was announced that Midland had been acquired by Arriva Midlands . Midland's 110 staff will transfer to Arriva. Arriva plans to incorporate Midland's fleet of 61 buses into the Arriva fleet and operate it under the Arriva brand. The takeover came into effect on 23 September 2012. The Office of Fair Trading cleared
775-477: The operations and most buses of Oldbury based bus company Midland Rider. Operations were transferred to the Wednesfield depot, where for a short period the companies' operations were kept apart. Most of the Midland Rider buses however were not low floor and were soon withdrawn, with all Midland Rider services becoming Midland operated by the summer. Included in the purchase was a relatively rare Leyland Lynx II,
806-517: The same fleet numbers. Arriva announced that from 1 April 2018 that no buses from their Cannock depot would run during the evenings and Sundays as a result of Staffordshire County Council funding cuts. Hundreds signed an online petition within the first week, which quickly lead to thousands including backing from two local MPs. In November 2020 it was announced that the Cannock Depot would be sold to D&G bus , with services being operated under
837-437: The target of another buy-out when it was acquired by Stoke-on-Trent based D&G Bus . This enabled Choice to further update its fleet with newer low floor Dennis Darts (sporting Plaxton , East Lancs and Marshall bodies) and some mid life Mercedes-Benz midibuses. A new livery of D&G cream and blue was initially used. In March 2009, fellow Walsall and Wolverhampton bus operator A2Z Travel had its licence revoked. At
868-496: The time, they operated numerous routes with over thirty buses in the area, many of behalf of Centro . An agreement was struck at the last minute, which saw several of A2Z's routes and buses transfer to Choice Travel in Wednesfield , in addition to the Operations Manager of A2Z. Any trace of A2Z Travel was removed and replaced with the new fleetname of Midland. Initially, this was used just on former A2Z route, but in mid-2009 it
899-425: Was decided to adopt this as the new fleetname. This coincided with a new look for the whole D&G brand, of a two-tone red livery. A concentrated effort was then launched to repaint the whole fleet and install digital destination equipment in all buses, something which was completed by 2010. As part of this scheme, buses also started being refurbished into a special Midland moquette. In March 2010, Midland obtained
930-543: Was formed with 181 buses operating from five depots in Derbyshire , Leicestershire , Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire as part of the breakup of the Midland Red bus company, and in January 1984 was renamed Midland Fox. In 1987 it was privatised in a management buyout . Several smaller operators including Loughborough Bus & Coach Company were purchased and in 1989 it was sold to the Drawlane Group. In November 1992 it
961-525: Was sold to British Bus which in August 1996 was sold to the Cowie Group and later renamed Arriva Fox County. Arriva Midlands East currently operate from three depots within the Leicestershire area these are Thurmaston, Coalville and Barwell. In September 2013, Arriva purchased Centrebus Groups shares in Centrebus Holdings with their Hinckley operations becoming Hinckley Bus which operated as