A new trial bus service will begin running between Stone and Rugeley on Tuesday 1 September, linking the two towns with eight villages in between.
The county council-funded route 151 will call at Aston Lodge, Burston, Sandon, Weston, Hixon, Great Haywood, Little Haywood and Colwich. An hourly service will operate from Monday to Saturday, with nine journeys in each direction from just before 9am to 5.30pm.
One-year trial period
The service will run for a year as a trial. Staffordshire County Council's transport team will monitor passenger numbers and usage during this period to inform future plans.
Andrew Mynors, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Connectivity, said the new service had been developed in close consultation with residents and town and parish councils along the A51 corridor.
"This route hasn't had a regular service for several years and it will be a welcome addition for people of all ages," Mynors said. "It's a priority to us to ensure our residents have a choice of transport options to access work, education, health and leisure services."
Brendan McKeown, Stafford Borough Councillor for Haywoods & Hixon, welcomed the trial, noting the growing communities and industrial developments along the Trent Valley.
How to find the timetable
The full timetable will be available from 3 August on the Staffordshire County Council bus travel webpage.
