MORE than 800 names have been collected on petitions in a bid to save a Kidderminster bus service from the axe.

Wyre Forest Tory councillors Tracey Onslow, John Hart, Juliet Smith, Anne Hingley and Anna Coleman said they were “outraged” about the proposed loss of the Diamond Bus number 2 service.

The operator announced a raft of changes to the Number 2 route, amongst others, to address criticisms made by the Traffic Commissioner on their reliability and financial losses being incurred.

The route no longer serves Habberley Estate and, if user numbers don’t increase, Diamond could scrap the service altogether on September 28.

But the Conservatives have sent three petitions which 881 people from across the district have signed urging the company to rethink this.

Councillor Smith said: “Although Diamond Bus Company is a private company making its own financial decisions, the significant response we have had to our petition must be taken seriously.”

Diamond confirmed the petitions have been received and are sending out leaflets to residents along the 2/2A service routes explaining the position.

A spokesman said: “We have a loss making service and users are unhappy with it and feel the service we provide is unacceptable.

“If this were a purely a business decision, it would be better to completely remove the service - this would stop the criticism for the service performance and the business would be financially better off.

“However, we feel a responsibility to try and make the service more reliable and work both for users and for ourselves.

“We have therefore created a more direct service to give it the best possible chance. But we need to make this work sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, Wyre Forest Dial-a-Ride and Community Transport has moved to clarify that they will not be operating a direct substitute to the bus service as previously suggested.

In a joint statement they said: “Community Transport does not provide a substitute bus service but offers an alternative journey opportunity for essential trips for eligible people.

“For both schemes prebooking and registration is a requirement together with 48 hours’ notice.”