Axed Hucknall Connect evening bus service is set be restored with new funding

In February, TrentBarton announced the Connect evening and Sunday services would end from April 2.

The Connect service was threatened with the axe last year until Nottinghamshire Council stepped in with funding to keep it going.

But that funding ended in April and TrentBarton said it could not run the full service without the council support of around £150,000, meaning the services were cut.

Now, the council has announced that it plans to use funding allocated from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan to re-introduce the Connect evening service after Coun Neil Clarke (Con), cabinet member responsible for transport, confirmed he had been asked to consider Hucknall as part of the new funding.

A council spokesperson said: “It does relate to the gap left after the Hucknall Connect was reduced earlier this year but we will now be looking at what options are available as part of the next stage to fill the gap.

“Funding for the improvements will be from our Bus Service Improvement Plan grant.”

Hucknall MP Mark Spencer (Con) welcomed the news, saying: "I am delighted he has listened, so thank you Neil.

"The decision has to clear the council scrutiny process and final proposals are being drawn up to show how the service will look.

"I will share the final details when they are published."

Coun Dave Shaw (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall West at the district and county councils, said: “We are delighted that our campaign has paid off.

"Ashfield Independent councillors like Ian Briggs, Lee Waters, John Wilmott and I have campaigned for the return of a full-time evening bus service.

“We have raised this issue time and time again and we are delighted that the council has listened.”

Coun Waters added: “Whilst replacing the gaps in provision left by a reduction in the Hucknall Connect service was a priority of all three Hucknall county councillors, I would like to pay tribute to the work of Coun Shaw in particular.

"He has been relentless in his campaign to help the estates across Hucknall he serves.

"The next move is to ensure this happens and fight to bring back the Sunday service.”