RESIDENTS will not be left stranded without a bus service after the council stepped in – but they have been warned to make the most of it.

Hampshire County Council has today decided to award a tender for a bus between Hill Head and Fareham.

The contract will be of up to four years, at an estimated value of £370,000, with the cost met from the public transport budget.

This is to replace elements of the 5A, 6 and 21 services following the decision by the bus operator to withdraw these services as it felt that they were no longer commercially viable.

The new bus route will cover the existing 5A and 21 bus areas, although the service will be slightly reduced during off-peak hours.

Cllr Seán Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment, who made the decision, said it was important to have local bus routes for people to access work, shops, college and health centres, but as the council has limited resources, residents needed to make full use of the service.

He said that the taxpayer would fund the service for a few months to give the community a chance to show its value and that he hoped to see an increase in passenger numbers ahead of a review in six months’ time.