THERE will be a fast bus from Holmfirth to Huddersfield starting soon.

The service is being introduced following the Holme Valley Bus Review.

The service 310 replaces the 313 and will cut out Thongsbridge, meaning passengers will get into Huddersfield in 30 minutes.

It’s among many changes to First bus services and the mini-bus routes in the Holme Valley and they will begin in April.

Neale Wallace, bus services manager for Metro, updated residents about the changes at the latest Holme Valley Area Committee.

He said: “Metro, which is funded by the district councils, has to find 25% savings which means we’ve had to look at the services we support.

“But in the Holme Valley we’re actually spending a bit more. We spend twice as much per person on bus services in the Holme Valley than we do across West Yorkshire.”

As part of the changes there will be a half hourly direct fast bus between Holmfirth and Huddersfield.

The bus into Huddersfield will terminate at Huddersfield Bus Station rather than the Railway Station. Metro says it will make the service run to time as it will speed up driver changeover.

There will be four buses per hour passing by the Holme Valley Memorial Hospital, two doctors surgeries and a dental practice.

Changes to the H services will improve reliability and co-ordination with big bus services.

Improved mini-bus links between Hade Edge and Sheffield Road into Holmfirth will be on a 12-month trial.

But the changes mean the loss of a direct link from Netherthong and Oldfield into Huddersfield and the loss of an evening and Sunday service on the route.

Mr Wallace said: “Passenger numbers were low for us to justify it being value for money. I think on one day there were only five people who used the service.”

The reduction to hourly of a through bus to Huddersfield from Thongsbridge is also planned.

The current H5 between Netherthong and Holmfirth and the H7 between Holmbridge and Holmfirth are combined into one cross-Holmfirth route, to be named the H5.

In total, 134 people responded to the public consultation with about 70% wanting a faster link from Holmfirth to Huddersfield.

Clr Ken Sims, chairman of the Holme Valley Area Committee, said: “This time last year we were facing some huge cuts in services.

“We really put the case and I am pleased with what’s been done.

“A lot of places elsewhere have had cuts and a reduction in funding, I’m pleased Neale Wallace has really understood what people want and provided it.”

A full timetable and route plan for the Holme Valley is being produced in the coming weeks.

For details about each service route visit www.wymetro.com/consultation/busreview/holmevalleybusreview