A vital bus service connecting Bilston with Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital has been saved after councillors stepped in with a rescue package.

It was feared patients and visitors would need to change buses several times or be forced to get a taxi after bus company Travel West Midlands announced it was axing the 531 service from this month.

The rescue move follows a campaign by local residents and MP Pat McFadden to keep the service running.  They failed to persuade the bus company – even though it’s claimed almost 400 people a day rely on the service.  But Centro, the public transport body funded by local councils, is to subsidise the route instead.

“Public transport is a public service and a vital lifeline for many people,” says Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the Passenger Transport Authority, which sets Centro policy.  “Although our funds are not unlimited, we do support more than 200 bus services across the West Midlands on routes and at times not considered profitable enough by bus operators.”

Councillor Clarke say he is hoping to win the support of the local MP for a reform of the bus industry which would help protect vital community services.

A recent survey of MPs found that 68% of all MPs, and 86% of Labour MPs, think bodies like Centro-PTA should have a greater role in determining and specifying bus networks and service quality.