A new trial bus service will begin operating between Stone and Rugeley from 1 September, connecting two Staffordshire towns and eight villages along the A51 corridor.
Staffordshire County Council is funding the year-long trial of route 151, which will run hourly from Monday to Saturday with nine journeys in each direction. Services will operate between just before 09:00 and 17:30.
The bus will call at Aston Lodge, Burston, Sandon, Weston, Hixon, Great Haywood, Little Haywood and Colwich. It will replace service A.
Monitoring Passenger Numbers
Andrew Mynors, cabinet member for connectivity at the authority, said the council hopes people make use of the service. He stated: "We continually review our bus network so that it's efficient and targeted where services are needed most."
Mynors added the route had not had a regular service for several years and described it as "a welcome addition" and "great news for communities along the A51 corridor that they can benefit from better transport connections".
The council's transport team will monitor the service and passenger numbers during the trial period. Forward plans will depend on passenger uptake.
Local Support for Trial
Stafford borough councillor for Haywoods and Hixon, Brendan McKeown, said 12 months was "a generous period" for the trial. He noted there were "many growing communities and industrial developments" along the Trent Valley area.
McKeown stated: "After our hard work and planning to get to this point, we hope as many people use the service as possible."
How to Find Timetables
The timetable will be available from Monday on Staffordshire County Council's bus travel webpage.
