West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed the confirmation that housing developer funding will be used to subsidise Kempsey’s off-peak bus services. The Astons Coach company will be running day time services, funded by contributions made from the widescale housing development in the fast-growing village. First Bus announced that it was removing the off-peak service from next week owing to ‘reduced demand’. Harriett intervened and called on Worcestershire County Council to act urgently to preserve the important transport link. Harriett commented: “The bus service changes are having impacts across the county but the one which caused most concern was the day-time service through Kempsey. “My concerns were confirmed by a number of local groups getting in touch and I immediately raised my concerns with the county transport team. “I am glad that they have been able to identify funding from the large-scale housing developments in the village to pay for this important public transport. In my opinion, this is exactly what such developer funding should be doing and I was pleased to secure this action so quickly. “There are still other service reductions that will affect my constituents and I have spoken at length to First Bus to understand why they are making such changes. “In the meantime, I urge the county to work with First Bus and other operators to ensure that we get the right services for local people.”