IT’S a victory for people power as a vital bus service is reinstated after a campaign by hundreds of residents.

More than 600 people from a Southampton community who signed a petition to get a vital lifeline bus route changed are celebrating after bus chiefs decided to resurrect it.

As reported by the Daily Echo, residents from Lords-hill launched a campaign in November, after First Bus S1 service was taken over by Velvet – but cut out part of the route via Lordshill North and Lordshill District Centre.

Elderly and disabled residents said they had been left isolated by the move and, with the backing of their Coxford councillors Don Thomas and Keith Morrell, urged bus chiefs to rethink their plans.

Now bosses at the Eastleigh-based Velvet Bus Company will reinstate the route from January 6. Buses will now stop off at Buchanon Road, Mattheson Road, Sutherland Road in Lordshill.

The U-turn came after talks between Velvet and South-ampton City Council to come up with a solution that ended with a package being agreed to extend the S1 route.

Praising the campaign, Phil Stockley, managing director at Velvet Buses, said: “I think it shows that it is right for people to speak up if they think that things will be improved because if we know there is a problem we will listen to it and do what we can to help.”

Cllr Thomas said it was great news and added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 600-plus local Lordshill Residents for helping to make this happen.”

His views were echoed by Cllr Morrell who said: “A vote of thanks must go to Velvet Buses who listened to the residents and responded so positively and quickly to their concerns.”