New route for 'vital' weekday bus service which faced being axed in Stoke-on-Trent
A "vital" bus service in Stoke-on-Trent which faced being cut from timetables will run on a new route.
Bus operator D&G notified Stoke-on-Trent City Council in March that it was no longer commercially viable to run the weekday number 40 service, leaving councillors with the task of finding a solution to protect the service.
After using passenger data to redesign the route, the Monday-Friday service between Hanley and Newstead will now be replaced with a First Potteries route starting on 14 April.
Councillors say the new route will run hourly on weekdays serving Newstead, Longton, and Mount Pleasant, with a new stop on Christchurch Street in Fenton and has been designed to be financially sustainable while "meeting the needs of the majority of existing users".
The complete loss of the route would have left parts of Mount Pleasant and Dresden cut off from reliable transport links but the new service does not mean the existing service will be retained in its entirety.
Cllr Lyn Sharpe, Councillor for Fenton West and Mount Pleasant, said: "This is fantastic news for our community.
"When D&G said they were pulling the plug, we knew we had to act fast.
"Residents in Mount Pleasant rely on this service for shopping, medical appointments, and daily independence."
The council will be using money from its £9.8 million government Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation to fund the route and the already existing Saturday First Potteries service on the route is unaffected by the change.
Allison Gardner MP for Stoke-on-Trent South said: "From the moment this issue came to light, I have been working closely with the council to secure a solution that protects those who rely on this service most.
"It was essential to act swiftly and responsibly to ensure that communities were not left without public transport.
"I'm pleased that we've been able to put a plan in place that maintains an hourly service while keeping it financially sustainable.
Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP, Gareth Snell, said it was "disappointing" the route couldn't be retained in its entirety adding that he will "continue to push for a direct service between Mount Pleasant, Stoke and Hanley".
Cllr Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: "Thanks to the Labour government's bus funding, we've kept this service running and avoided leaving Mount Pleasant and Dresden behind.
"This is a practical example of what we're delivering across the city: public services that work for local people.
"I thank Cllr Lyn Sharpe, Dr Allison Gardner MP and Gareth Snell MP for raising this issue on behalf of their residents.
"This is a great example of what a Labour Council, working with Labour MPs in a Labour Government can deliver for local people."
Stoke Nub News has approached Stoke-on-Trent City Council about the full details of the revised route.
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