COMMUTERS in Pershore have been handed a lifeline after Warwickshire County Council joined forces with a bus firm to extend one of its services into the town on Sundays.
The 166 Worcester-Pershore-Evesham-Stratford service ran for the last time last week and there had been fears the town would be left with no Sunday services.
However the service has now been replaced by Stagecoach’s 28 service which will provide a two hourly route between Evesham and Stratford, with one return journey per day also serving Pershore.
The late reprieve comes just months after Worcestershire County Council chiefs cut the town’s remaining Sunday service as part of the authority’s bid to slash £3million from its budget.
Bus campaigners have welcomed the reprieve which will see a new Sunday departure from Pershore to Evesham and Stratford leaving from Broad Street at 10am offering a full day in Stratford with a return service at 5.10pm.
Pershore town councillor Julian Palfrey told the Observer: “This is great news for Pershore as it means the town can maintain a Sunday service when it looked like there was not going to be one.
“Losing the service and the prospect of no replacement would have been a big blow to transport users in Pershore but I am delighted that this has happened. Warwickshire County Council and Stagecoach have obviously seen potential in Pershore
and looking towards the future there is the possibility of improving the service further.
“But at least we have a start in place which will be to the relief of many.”
Kevin McGovern, transport operations manager for Warwickshire County Council, confirmed an agreement has been reached
between Stagecoach and the authority.
“We very much hope that regular and sustained usage will ensure that the service, which starts on Sunday (September 7),
has a long and stable future.”
Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables to see the updated bus timetables and routes.
