PEOPLE power has saved a village bus service.

Delighted residents of Kirkheaton are celebrating the news that a threatened bus service has won a reprieve.

Officials from transport operator Metro confirmed at a community meeting that they had listened to the concerns of Kirkheaton residents and that there would continue to be an evening service to and from Kirkheaton and Upper Heaton – albeit slightly reduced.

From the end of April there will be three 262 services after 7pm, and a final one through an extension of the 371 which will give an even later bus than is available now.

The news was given at a public meeting in Kirkheaton Church, where around 50 local residents came to hear and ask questions of Mr Neale Wallace, bus services manager for Metro.

The meeting was chaired by the Rev Richard Steel, chairman of ‘Yetton Together,’ and heard the widespread concerns from residents.

But Mr Wallace confirmed that the service would run until July 2013, with further assessment of future services earlier that year, with full consultation with local residents.

He said: “Metro is currently undertaking consultation on a wide range of bus services within South Kirklees for changes in October this year.

“Whilst the 262 Kirkheaton evening service was not part of this wider consultation, the service was flagged up as being at risk from April 2012 as it did not represent value for money with low passenger use and a high cost per passenger journey.