The Green Lanes and Westfaling Street areas of Hereford are set to regain their regular bus service when new timetables are introduced on Sunday, February 27.
This service was lost in May 2004 when First Midland Red Buses withdrew it.
Public protests followed the loss of this service as local people found themselves unable to visit the shops and doctor’s surgeries and people from other parts of Hereford were unable to visit the City’s crematorium on Westfaling Street.
Acting on the concerns of the local community, Herefordshire Council began negotiations with the bus company.
First Midland Red Buses has now agreed to operate an hourly service on the route during “off-peak” times and daytime on Saturdays.
Although Herefordshire Council was unable to provide subsidy for a replacement service it has continued to negotiate with bus companies to resolve the problem and re-instate a full service.
Cllr Mike Wilson, Cabinet Member (Highways & Transportation), said: “I am pleased that we have been able to conclude successful negotiations with the bus company to restore a service to the Green Lanes area.
“Local people made it obvious how much they valued the service and this has helped greatly with our efforts to bring back the buses.”
The new service, to be numbered 71A, will be provided by diverting alternate buses on service 71 to and from Credenhill.
Full details will be contained in a new edition of the Council’s “Hereford & Bromyard Area Bus Timetable” and will also be posted on the Council’s website http://www.herefordbus.info/ shortly before the service begins.