A KIDDERMINSTER bus service that faced being axed has been given a stay of execution.

Diamond Buses have confirmed the 2/2a services will continue to run for the next four weeks, having originally warned it could be removed due to the financial losses the company was incurring.

There was further good news for passengers as Wyre Forest Dial-A-Ride confirmed it was to trial a community bus service for the Habberley estate, which was no longer being served by Diamond.

Last month, the bus company announced a string of changes to routes in the wake of criticism from Traffic Commissioner Nick Denton over the firm’s timekeeping.

These included omitting the Habberley Estate from the number 2 route as well as considering scrapping the service altogether unless it stopped making a loss.

The announcement prompted huge concerns amongst passengers and senior councillors including Labour leader Nigel Knowles, Liberal Democrat Fran Oborski and Tory members who handed in petitions calling for the service to be retained.

But Diamond director Bob Baker said he had a productive meeting with Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier who said he will work with the firm and Worcestershire County Council to ensure viable services continue in the area.

Mr Baker said: “We are committed to making our services work for residents and ourselves.

“Some of the changes we implemented have improved reliability but we have to make the Number 2/2A service commercially viable for us in order for it to continue.

“At the moment, the buses are mainly used by people with concessionary passes. We also face an issue where Worcestershire County Council run their subsidised 292 service which is in direct competition with our 2, 2A, 125 and part of the 303 routes.

“If they were to reconsider this, it could boost viability for our services as well as potentially saving taxpayers money which could be used where it is needed more.

“But the meeting with Mr Garnier was positive and we are continuing the service for four more weeks and we will assess it then.

“We continue to look at options available to us to improve as well as sustain our services.”

Wyre Forest Dial-A-Ride are being supported by the council for the trail Habberley service, which will run for three months when it begins on October 9.

It will leave the bus station at 10am and go via Habberley Road, Canterbury Road, Holmwood Avenue and St John’s Avenue back to the bus station. A second trip will follow the same route from 12.30pm.

Highways cabinet member Alan Amos said: “The 292 is a joint contract between Worcestershire County Council and Shropshire County Council.

“The current route of this service is a direct route into Kidderminster as this is one of the primary destinations for people using this service; it does not divert from the main road unlike the 2/2a service which serves the main estates in Bewdley.

“Diamond have only recently raised concerns regarding the sustainability of the 2 service and we will of course discuss this with them as part of our wider review of the bus network.”