West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has welcomed the return of a bus service which was withdrawn during the pandemic leaving many local people struggling to access public transport in the north of Malvern.

The X43 service running from Malvern Vale into Worcester was quietly withdrawn from service while bus usage was difficult in the pandemic.

The MP has been running a long-standing campaign to bring about the return of the service and she met with senior managers at First Bus to identify ways to return the service to the schedules.

Currently the S43 school service takes pupils to Dyson Perrins school but returns back to its base in Worcester without any passengers.

Dame Harriett suggested to the bus company that the S43 service could convert to the old X43 on its return journey, allowing passengers to use the service at the start and end of the day.

The bus company has now confirmed that the service will return to the timetable on April 28 and has added an additional middle of the day trip as well.

The service now known as the 43 route will now run between Link Top in Malvern looping through the town and into Malvern Vale at Dyson Perrins school before following the 44 route into Worcester. It adds Malvern Vale customers to a main bus route and the MP urged people to use the service to show support for the returning route as quickly as possible.

Dame Harriett said:

“I was delighted to be able to sit down with the senior First Bus management and together come up with a solution that allows customers to use what was an empty bus returning to its base.

“This was a common-sense solution which means that we can now celebrate the return of the X43 service which local people have asked me to campaign for.

“It is now vital that local people show their support for this service. With extra demand, I am confident that the bus company will add additional services in due course.

“Along with the extra services along the 44 route with later services and buses running on Sundays, I am grateful that First Bus is looking to improve bus service coverage and allow more people to choose public transport.

“As ever, this is a case of ‘use it or lose it’ and I hope local people will show their support for these bus service improvements by hopping on a bus.”

Photo: George Burton, Dame Harriett Baldwin MP and Doug Claringbold