A rural bus service for school pupils which looked under threat will still be provided after discussions between an MP and a council.

The 28 route, which is mostly used by students who live in Marden to get to schools across Maidstone, was due to be scrapped by its operator NuVenture as they deemed it to be unprofitable and unsustainable because of continued delays caused by traffic.

Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant then made urgent contact with Kent County Council to ask them to intervene to protect the service.

Pressure was also applied by members of the Maidstone School Bus Liaison Committee, including by representatives of Maidstone’s Grammar Schools.

As a result, KCC committed to protecting the service and issued a tender for a like-for-like service which was won by Autocar, who will take over the route in November.

Mrs Grant said: "I know from speaking to people in Marden that the No. 28 service is a lifeline for students and, of course, their parents - the ocal community made clear to me that they simply couldn’t afford to lose it.

"I am therefore delighted that a ‘like-for-like’ service will now be maintained, albeit operated by a new provider.

"I would like to congratulate Kent County Council for their swift response and commitment to preserving this all-important service.

"This also again shows the benefits of our school bus liaison committee as a means of addressing issues with school transport swiftly and efficiently."

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