Hitting bus passengers in the pocket with increased fares is wrong when there have been so many complaints about the existing service, a South Staffordshire councillor said today.

Residents in Essington are among hundreds of bus travellers across the Midlands forced to pay more following increases levied last Tuesday.

People wanting to get into Cannock or Wolverhampton from Essington on the Arriva 68 service are now forced to pay £2.20 instead of £1.80 for a single journey and £4.40 instead of £3.60 for a day return.

Arriva has previously blamed the increases on inflation.

District and parish councillor David Clifft is now in talks with transport chiefs at Staffordshire County Council because the local authority pays a travel subsidiary for residents using buses.

“I have been inundated with phone calls from residents complaining about the hike in the cost of travel in the village” he said. “All this comes on the back of the constant complaints about Arriva’s 68 service.

“The service is often late with some services failing to turn up.

“Drivers also often pass passengers who are standing at bus stops.”

He continued: “The complaints have been going on for about 18 months. A lot of people have stopped using the service in protest.

“The option of getting the bus from somewhere else is only available to those able to walk to other bus stops.”

Keith Myatt, of Arriva Midlands, said: “Following the concerns raised by Councillor Clifft specifically, Arriva Midlands will commit to reviewing the intermediate prices on this service. The 68 service is run on by Arriva Midlands on behalf of Staffordshire County Council on a tendered basis. We are always looking to improve the service.

“With regards to comments raised by Councillor Clifft concerning aspects of reliability on route 68 we would welcome the opportunity to investigate the claims made and would like clarification of dates, times, route directions of service so that we can carry out a thorough investigation.”