BUS users in Pewsham have been left delighted after Faresaver announced they would be running a bus service through the area as part of a revised timetable.

Residents were left shocked last year when First Group announced they would be cancelling services through Pewsham with more than 150 residents attending a meeting to discuss the issue and vent their frustrations.

Daniel Pickford, general manager at Faresaver, said: “The area has been without a bus service following the cancellation of a community bus service which was set up after Pewsham Estate was cut from the FirstBus 231 route which has subsequently been cancelled in its entirety.

“We have been aware of the need for the provision of a bus service over the past year but lengthy discussions with both Wiltshire Council and Chippenham Town Council proved unsuccessful in obtaining funding to provide a service.

“We have therefore introduced a service which we hope will be financially viable given the lack of council subsidy whilst providing a level of service which will meet the needs of those who live in Pewsham.”

The new hourly bus will run Monday to Saturday from September 4 alongside the existing town service which will provide a service on the Monkton Park, Pipsmore Road, Barrow Green and Ladyfield Road loops also on an hourly basis.

Councillor Teresa Hutton, who represents Pewsham ward, said: “We are absolutely delighted, All the residents I’ve contacted letting them know are really delighted.

“At the moment for some people in Pewsham, elderly people or some with mobility issues, it can be a 20 minute walk to the nearest bus stop or they are having to get taxis into town.

“It’s a major issue for many of the older less mobile residents of Pewsham.”

Councillor Mark Packard, who also represents Pewsham ward, added: “I’m over the moon, we have bus stops and now we have a bus service.

“The only point I would make is in an ideal world the service would start at 8am and end at 8pm so that people who are going to work can use it.”

Other changes to the Faresaver timetable include more buses on the X31 service between Chippenham, Corsham and Bath as well as a later departure on the X34 service from Chippenham at 6.30pm.

For more details visit www.faresaver.co.uk/.