A TENBURY volunteer transport scheme is to get an early Christmas present following confirmation that a new minibus will be delivered in December.

It ends a very long wait for the bus that is vital to the future of the Tenbury Transport Trust.

The trust has been promised the bus for more than a year but, despite repeated reassurances that it would be coming, no date had been given.

It is the news that the transport trust has been waiting for and comes at the same time as confirmation that Tesco plan to open its new store in the early part of 2017.

This clears the way for a pay-out of nearly £100,000 for the transport trust that has been agreed as part of the planning permission granted to Tesco.

However, it is not clear if the money will come in a single payment or in instalments over a number of years.

But John Driver, who chairs the Tenbury Transport Trust, has promised that people in the town and surrounding area will be kept informed about developments.

News of the arrival of the new bus before the end of the year clears the way for the trust to develop new plans which include the introduction of additional services. One of the new routes that is now in the pipeline is a bus service that would link Tenbury with Ludlow.

It puts a new perspective on the prospects for the transport trust which, earlier in the summer, was preparing survival plans in the event of Tesco not coming to Tenbury, combined with finding a way to cope with the two existing buses, one of which is very close to the end of its operational life.

News of the imminent arrival of the new bus came in a letter from the Department for Transport to Harriett Baldwin MP whose West Worcestershire constituency includes Tenbury.

It came after she had contacted the Ministry for Transport on behalf of the trust.

The new Mercedes Sprinter minibus is part of a £25 million Government fund to help rural transport schemes and Harriett Baldwin had written supporting the trust on several occasions.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones wrote to the MP to confirm that although there have been some delays supplying the bus, the delivery of a new vehicle is planned for December.

“I am delighted for John Driver and the Tenbury Transport Trust at this news,” said Harriett Baldwin.

"Their patience has paid off and I hope that they will take delivery of the new vehicle before Christmas.

“Over the years, I have done all I can to help this important rural transport scheme and I hope the new minibus helps more people to get out and about.

“I look forward to seeing the new bus, when it arrives, and getting an update from the volunteer drivers in due course.”

Tenbury Transport Trust runs both bus and car services and is on the lookout for volunteer drivers to help it to keep the wheels turning.