Joy as bus service reprieved
The survival of a threatened bus service that was saved from the axe in Staffordshire was partly due to the hard work of parish councillors, it has been claimed. The survival of a threatened bus service that was saved from the axe in Staffordshire was partly due to the hard work of parish councillors, it has been claimed. Their efforts ensured the Travel West Midlands' decision to scrap the Norton Canes 396A and 396C bus routes to Walsall did not affect villagers for too long. That is according to parish council chairman Dave Clarke, who spoke out at a special meeting of the council. Villagers had reacted with fury to the move, which left workers, students and pensioners with no alternative service. It was the only public transport link between the bottom end of the village to the shops at the top end. Read the full story in the Express & Star
The survival of a threatened bus service that was saved from the axe in Staffordshire was partly due to the hard work of parish councillors, it has been claimed.
Their efforts ensured the Travel West Midlands' decision to scrap the Norton Canes 396A and 396C bus routes to Walsall did not affect villagers for too long.
That is according to parish council chairman Dave Clarke, who spoke out at a special meeting of the council.
Villagers had reacted with fury to the move, which left workers, students and pensioners with no alternative service.
It was the only public transport link between the bottom end of the village to the shops at the top end.But Arriva Midlands stepped in and announced it would provide a replacement service linking Norton Canes with Brownhills and Walsall.
The link was retained following the award of a local bus service tender to Arriva Midlands by Staffordshire County Council.
However it is only a temporary solution and negotiations will carry on between Staffordshire County Council and Travel West Midlands.
Councillor Clarke said he was delighted the service would continue.
"I think we have got to pat ourselves on the back a little bit for the efforts we have put in on the bus service," he said.
"With the help of Staffordshire County Council we have now got the bus service back to more or less what it was. It is the only bus service from the bottom end of the village up to the shops and that has had a lot of effect on people."
Arriva route 362, currently running between Walsall and Brownhills, has been extended back to start at Norton Canes.
Buses will be re-numbered 63 and will continue to run up to every 30 minutes daytime Monday to Saturday between Norton Canes, Chapel Street, Norton Green Lane, Burntwood Road, Norton East Road, Hednesford Road, Wilkin Road, Watling Street, A5, Chase Road, Lichfield Road to Brownhills High Street then the normal route to and from Walsall.
Timetables will be available at libraries, tourist information centres, council offices and the Centro offices at Walsall bus station.
