HEAVY financial losses have led to the "reluctant decision" by The Green Bus company to withdraw its Kinver to Stourbridge 242 bus service.

Ian Mack, chairman of The Green Bus company, confirmed its service would cease running today (Friday September 24) following the end of subsidies provided by the Department for Transport's CBSSG scheme which has been funding loss-making bus routes during the pandemic.

He said the DfT's Bus Recovery Grant was unlikely to cover the costs of running the service which he said was making "very heavy financial losses of up to £100,000 per annum" and he added: "There is no sign of post-lockdown improvement."

He continued: "We had been working closely with TfWM, Staffordshire County Council, the West Midlands Rail Executive, the National Trust, and representatives from Kinver Parish Council to provide a much-improved connection between Kinver and the railway at Stourbridge Junction.

"We had been working on an ambitious modal shift project which had the potential to transform Kinver's connection to the national rail network.

"I am particularly grateful to the representatives from each of the organisations mentioned for working so closely and collaboratively with us, and we regret that the financial losses which the service is incurring will prevent us from bringing our plans to fruition."

He said it ha been a "reluctant decision" to withdraw the operation - adding: "We have enjoyed providing service 242 between Kinver and Stourbridge and are deeply disappointed that we cannot continue with it.

"We had a warm welcome from Kinver residents when we started operating the service over a year ago; and we would happily resume service 242 if appropriate financial arrangements were put in place."

Staffordshire County Council has confirmed it has been in discussions with Select Bus Services who have agreed to operate service 242 starting on Monday September 27.

The service will operate between Stourbridge and Kinver, serving Stourbridge Station and Stourton, and will include the school service 742 between Stourbridge and Kinver High School.