Arriva in talks over service facing axe

Talks are being held to find out if a bus service running through Walsall, linking Cannock and Birmingham, can be saved after it initially faced the axe next month.

The X31 Arriva service was due to end on June 2, with bosses claiming the decision was taken due to a lack of users.

But there may now be a glimmer of hope for the service after the company agreed to delay the decision until September. Centro and Staffordshire County Council have stepped in to fund the service in the meantime.

Arriva says the firm has entered into talks with the authorities to agree future plans for the service. The initial decision to axe the service sparked anger from campaigners.

Willenhall North Councillor Ian Shires, is campaigning for the service, which travels through New Invention, to continue and claims it is vital to many people.

He said: "It is really popular at certain times of the day. It is used as a commuter service for people getting to work, it is used by students going to school and people will use it to go shopping in Birmingham."

Arriva spokesman Keith Myatt said the service will continue to operate until at least September 2 and the company would be in discussions with Centro and Staffordshire County Council.

Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said: "Centro and Staffordshire County Council have agreed to fund the service until Sept-ember 1. It is important in the meantime for passengers to continue using the service. Passenger figures will be taken into consideration."

Staffordshire County Council confirmed the authority was in talks with Centro. The X31 runs Monday to Saturday, between Cannock Bus Station and Carrs Lane in Birmingham. The service from Cannock begins at 6.15am during the working week, and has services right up until 5.40pm.

The service calls at Cheslyn Hay, New In-vention Shopping Centre, Short Heath shops, Shepwell Green and Wolverhampton Road West. The planned axing of the X31 Arriva service came after the company announced it was to scrap the X60 service, while the number 60 services linking Cannock and Lichfield would be reduced.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Will-iamson said at the time of the announcement the end of the service would affect hundreds of people across the region.

In April Arriva announced it would operate fewer route 60 departures, only weeks after scrapping the express X60 route.

The 60 service calls at East Cannock, Cross Keys, Heath Hayes, Norton Canes, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Burntwood, Pipe Hill and Darwin Park.