Wheels in motion for new bus route

A new bus route between Cannock and Wolverhampton through the village of Essington will be launched on Monday.

Arriva Midlands is introducing the new route which will bring relief to villagers after another service was axed.

The new 69 service will run every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and will include stops in Cannock, Great Wyrley, Landywood, Essington, New Invention, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton.

Route 69 also means a new link to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital for patients travelling from Cannock and surrounding areas, and the company is offering a number of multi-journey saver tickets.

The news will be welcomed by villagers who were concerned after the route nine Green Bus service linking Great Wyrley, Essington and Wolverhampton was scrapped.

The service will be dropped by November 10 after being reinstated just a few weeks ago and has sparked fears that patients would struggle to reach their doctors' surgery in Blackhalve Lane, Wednesfield.

Essington Parish Council condemned the scrapping of the route and has been in talks with Staffordshire County Council and other bus companies to get an improved service.

Route 70 will continue to run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday between Cannock and Wolverhampton calling at Cheslyn Hay, Featherstone and The Scotlands.

There is an evening service with route 69 and route 70 together providing five buses per hour between Cannock and Wolverhampton Monday to Saturday.

Keith Myatt, communications manager for Arriva Midlands, said he was sure customers would welcome the new route.

"It will meet the region's growing travel needs and help ease congestion and make using the bus a viable alternative to the car," he added.