Campaign brings back buses

People power has helped restore a village bus service into Kidderminster. The 580 service, run by Whittle Coach and Bus, goes from Kinver through Wolverley into Kidderminster on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Saturday service was stopped to cut costs.

Residents in Wolverley were upset because they said the withdrawal of the service meant they were unable to do their weekly shopping.

They still went into town on Tuesdays and Thursdays but struggled to carry their heavier bags after trying to stock up, they said. Many people also said they had chosen to live in the village because of its bus service.

Following their complaints, Wyre Forest District Councillor Malcolm Hazlewood asked a transport boss from Worcestershire County Council to attend a meeting of Wolverley Parish Council to hear campaigners' concerns.

The county council subsidises a number of bus services to help keep them running.

Councillor Hazlewood said: "It is a great example of people power getting results."

The services runs from Kinver from 10am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and picks up at Kinverdale park at 10.30am.

Neil Jones, from Whittle Coach and Bus, said: "It was taken off to cut costs but Worcestershire County Council has agreed to put back the Saturday service following a campaign by residents."