THURROCK councillors backed a three-day-a-week bus route to serve Fobbing, Corringham, and Basildon on Wednesday (9 December).
The new number 14 bus route, operated by Amber, and will start on Tuesday (15 December) and would run until 31 March 2016.
Cabinet members heard that portfolio holder Cllr Oliver Gerrish, and members of the council’s transport team had been working with bus operators for several months trying to put together a scheme that satisfied all the interested groups.
Talks had finished in the past week and as a result the report had to be heard as an urgent item.
It said there were two options for the new route between Fobbing, Corringham, and Basildon, or between Fobbing, Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, Grays and Lakeside.
Cllr Gerrish said: “As I have said on previous occasions, I see these subsidised bus services as very important to all our communities right across the borough. I do not believe that having no such services at all is an acceptable way forward.”
He explained that following consultation with residents, who said they need access to Basildon Hospital more than Lakeside, he was going to recommend that option.
Leader of the Council, Cllr John Kent, said: “What I would like to add is a message to the people of Fobbing. Your local councillor has lobbied hard on your behalf, but now it is up to you.
“The figures we had previously suggested very few people used the bus service.
“Plenty of Fobbing residents wanted to save the service, now I hope they will back that up by using it.”
George Webster, of Amber Coaches, said: “Amber Coaches is pleased to help assist the council and welcomes the news that the number 14 bus is going to service the fobbing area.”
Details of the route – which is estimated to cost the council £10,000 to run until the end of March, including times and dates have been published on Thurrock Council’s website thurrock.gov.uk/timetables
Cllr Gerrish also said that the approval of a five per cent increase to the council’s car park charges was expected to enable an extended number 11 service to run through Fobbing from April.
