COUNTY council chiefs say they have done the best they can to try to keep a bus service running for Kinver residents and high school students.

Select Bus Services stepped in to run the 242 Kinver to Stourbridge route after the previous operator withdrew at short notice due to a shortage of drivers.

The route was in danger of being lost, Staffordshire County Council said, but an agreement has been reached with the bus operator and the council to keep the lifeline rural route alive.

Council chiefs say the new service means there are additional buses running daily, a later last bus, an amended route and an incorporated school service.

However – not everyone is happy.

Residents in Hyperion Road, Stourton, have reportedly been “up in arms” about the bus trundling down their quiet street and some parents of children who need to catch the bus to school have objected to the offering as youngsters in some cases face a longer journey to and from school than previously when a home to school coach service operated.

The weekday service, which takes in Swindon, Himley, Bobbington and Enville along the route, takes 55 minutes to bus people from Stourton to Kinver which is typically a 15-minute drive.

Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council cabinet member for education and SEND, said of the situation: “The previous operator of the 242 Kinver to Stourbridge service had pulled out of this route completely, which would have left several communities without a service.

“Staffordshire County Council does not run bus services, but does work with operators, councils and communities to promote a sustainable transport network wherever possible.

“By adjusting the route of the 242 to serve Kinver High School, the council was able to transfer to it children entitled to free home-to-school transport, keep communities connected and, for the first time, offer pupils who are not entitled to free home-to-school transport to the school and sixth form the opportunity to catch this service rather than rely on the car.

“This is not a cost-cutting option: the council regularly puts children entitled to free home-to-school transport on public service routes rather than bespoke transport so we can use taxpayers’ money efficiently, help non-entitled students and support public bus services for the wider good.

“While we understand that some dislike this change, others have thanked us for taking action to preserve what they described as a ‘lifeline’.”

County councillor Victoria Wilson, who represents Kinver, said: “One of the big concerns I hear regularly from residents is the importance of keeping local buses running and even though the county council doesn’t provide services, it helps where it can and I am delighted it was able to help save the 242 service by suggesting it was rerouted to include Kinver High School and Sixth Form.

“I understand some parents are concerned about the longer journey time to and from school for their children and I have asked questions as to why that has to be.

“Some children also have reduced travel times and others who aren’t eligible for free travel will be able to catch a bus for the first time and this keeps our community connected so I understand the concerns of some parents but also recognise this change does a lot of good for Kinver and surrounding areas.”