A NEW bus service will be trialled in two areas of Kidderminster and Bewdley which had previously lost their transport link into the town centre.

Diamond Bus is due to launch the new number 8 service on a trial basis on Monday, October 26 to replace the old number 1 to the Rifle Range and number 2 to Hales Park.

The move means residents of the Habberley Estate will once again have a scheduled public transport link into Kidderminster, after hundreds of people signed a petition for the number 2 bus to be reinstated.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Residents of Kidderminster's Habberley Estate petitioned for the number 2 to be reinstatedResidents of Kidderminster's Habberley Estate petitioned for the number 2 to be reinstated

The Shuttle reported last year that elderly residents complained they had rarely left the house and felt "forgotten about" since Diamond stopped serving the estate in September 2018.

Now, bus users are being urged to "use it or lose it" to ensure the number 8 service will be sustainable long-term.

Bob Baker, managing director for Diamond Bus, said: "We have worked hard to find a solution for providing a viable service to the areas of Bark Hill and Habberley.

"The new route 8 will be funded entirely commercially, without the assistance of local government subsidy.

"We are introducing the Bark Hill and Habberley sections on a trial basis at this time, therefore we urge residents to use and support this service so that we may be able to sustain it long-term.”

Kidderminster Shuttle: Sue Houghton, Ange McGuire, Cllr Leigh Whitehouse, Cllr Anna L’Huillier and Cllr Vicky Caulfield launching a minibus service on the Habberley Estate after the number 2 service was axedSue Houghton, Ange McGuire, Cllr Leigh Whitehouse, Cllr Anna L’Huillier and Cllr Vicky Caulfield launching a minibus service on the Habberley Estate after the number 2 service was axed

The number 8 will be an hourly service serving the Rifle Range, Sutton Farm, Kidderminster Bus Station, Habberley, Bewdley, Bark Hill and Hales Park.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier, who has been in meetings with Diamond Bus about the need for the new bus service, said: “I am delighted that Diamond Buses have hopefully found a solution and it is now down to the residents to use this service, especially from the two estates which have previously seen the removal of their routes.

"Passenger numbers are vital to ensure the viability of any route."

Mr Garnier thanked county councillor Tracey Onslow for putting her divisional fund towards a Dial-a-Ride service for Habberley residents after the number 2 was axed.

District councillor Leigh Whitehouse, who launched a petition to reinstate the Habberley bus service last year, said: "I have been campaigning on this since the winter of 2018, I spoke with hundreds of residents on Habberley, many of them told me they were lost without a scheduled bus service.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The number 8 will replace the old number 1 and number 2 bus servicesThe number 8 will replace the old number 1 and number 2 bus services

It was hard to hear especially from isolated, elderly residents - one or two even cried in front of me due to the service being pulled.

"I told them I would campaign on their behalf and do everything I could to see it return.

"Diamond have been superb, they have looked at this and found a way of trying to bring it back and they have - credit to them.

"I would urge Habberley residents to use the service. This is a trial - if it isn’t used, it will be lost."