A trial bus service linking four South Staffordshire villages with Wolverhampton city centre which started this month has already been extended – after the county council took on board community feedback.
The route 17 service is operating from Monday to Friday between Wheaton Aston, Bishops Wood, Codsall Wood, Codsall and Wolverhampton Lichfield Street. It has started this month, providing easier access to shopping, leisure facilities and other services and run for a 12-week period before it is reviewed. This includes the school Easter holidays.
Now, following feedback from the parish council, two additional journeys have been added from this week. These are from Wheaton Aston Coach and Horses at 7.05am and from Wolverhampton Lichfield Street at 5.10pm.
Local county councillor Chris Large has worked with the transport team to get the service off the ground and extended.
Chris said:
It’s excellent news that not only have we got the new service up and running, but that our transport team has taken on board community feedback through the parish council and added another morning and evening journey. I’m really pleased that there will now be five buses every weekday from Wheaton Aston to Wolverhampton and operating in the opposite direction.
This means people without a car can access shops and other services easily, and it also provides more choice for those who want to leave the car at home. It’s important now that people use the service until Easter before it is reviewed. It’s great that our transport team has responded to community needs.”
Andrew Mynors, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for connectivity, said:
Ensuring we have connected communities that can access the services they need on a day-today basis is a priority to us. And listening and responding to our residents is at the heart of what we do.
Being able to get out to visit shops and leisure facilities also provides social benefit too. We’d now urge residents of the villages on the trial bus route to make as much use of the service as possible.”
