A new minibus service has been launched between Meriden Gap and Solihull.
Passengers previously had to book a taxibus 24 hours in advance, but the new number 83 service makes regular stops on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
The service is being operated by Heart of England Taxibus, who will be using a nine-seater LDV Maxus in minibus spec to run the route.
It leaves Meriden Green at 0930hrs and calls at Berkswell village, Balsall Common, Barston and Eastcote, before arriving in Solihull’s Mell Square at 1007hrs. It makes its return journey at 1145.
Local transport authority Centro recently launched the fixed service following the alteration of the old number 82 service in July last year – operated by National Express West Midlands and partly subsidised by Centro. The route alteration left a number of passengers without a regular bus service.
Steven Hayes, Centro’s area manager for Coventry and Solihull, said: “The service will now run at fixed times to make it easier for passengers living within the Meriden Gap to travel to and from Solihull without having to worry about booking in advance.
“It re-establishes a fixed bus route for Berkswell, Eastcote and Barston and reinstates the link between Meriden and Balsall Common.”
Glyn Price, of Balsall Common Village Residents’ Association, said: “There is no doubt the withdrawal of the regular service 0 caused hardship and difficulty for some members of the community.”
The service 83 will continue to run until January 2012 when it will be reviewed.
