Posted on Monday 20th December 2021
The council is supporting the #3 Cannock to Brownhills via Norton Canes service until a long-term operator can be found
An under-threat bus route serving villagers will be kept alive after Staffordshire County Council’s intervention.
The local authority has stepped in to support the route short term until a new, permanent operator can be found to take on a five-year contract.
The #3 Cannock to Brownhills via Norton Canes service was at risk after the current operator announced it was withdrawing from the contract on 9th January.
David Williams, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:
We understand the concern of residents who use this service that they would be left stranded by the current operator’s decision to pull out.
As a matter of urgency, the Council is stepping in to support this route for several weeks while a tender is organised to find a new operator.”
The retendered service will be supported by Section 106 money from the Norton Meadows housing development in Norton Canes and will incorporate the estate on the route between Cannock and Brownhills.
It’s anticipated that service will begin in late February and will eventually become popular enough to no longer need financial support.