Staffordshire County Council has succeeded where Shropshire Council has failed and agreed to provide a Sunday bus service for residents in Market Drayton.
The authority has agreed to retain the 164 service, meaning Drayton residents will be able to travel from the town centre to Newcastle-under-Lyme on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
The news comes one week after Shropshire axed all Sunday services to the town in a move that infuriated many residents.
The new service, which starts this Sunday, will begin in Market Drayton before calling at Loggerheads, Ashley, A51 Maer Turn, A53 Sheet Anchor and Whitmore before entering Newcastle-under-Lyme.
It will leave Market Drayton bus station at 10.11am, 12.11pm, 2.11pm, 4.11pm and 6.11pm, returning at 9.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm.
Leaflets with more details are available from Market Drayton Library.
Keith Myatt, communications manager for Wardle Transport, who will run the service, said: “Sunday buses on service 164 have been supported by Shropshire Council for a number of years. Shropshire Council were unable to continue supporting the service due to cuts in funding from central government.
“However Staffordshire County Council has stepped in to provide Sunday buses between Market Drayton and Newcastle. Service 164 will continue to provide a life-line to residents in local villages along the route and we’re sure they will support the service.”
Market Drayton resident and bus user Lesley Durling said: “This is absolutely brilliant news. I was speaking about the removal of the bus service just the other day with a lady from Loggerheads and she was saying how cut off she felt.
“If you don’t have a car then on a Sunday you were going to be stranded but this service now means people can still come into Market Drayton and Market Drayton residents can go elsewhere, so good on Staffordshire Council.
“The new route seems to be a good regular service and will be very useful for a lot of people.”
Fellow bus user Beryl Mann agreed but added she wasn’t impressed with Shropshire Council.
She said: “It’s a huge relief and I’m very grateful Staffordshire Council has come through for us all.
“I find it funny they have to come to our rescue even though we pay our rates to the lot in Shrewsbury.
“You can’t leave people in rural communities without a bus service over the weekend. At least we can all now travel north.
“Sadly, travelling to Shrewsbury is out of the question but this new service means a lot of people won’t be stranded.
“Not everyone has a car or can drive but Shropshire Council seems to have forgotten that.”
For more information on the new route call Wardle Transport on 01782 827 282 or visit www.wardletransport.co.uk
By Joseph Masi