A ‘MUCH missed’ bus service which had been pulled almost four years ago has been reinstated.

The ‘15A’ which will run from Burnley bus station to Burnley Wood after Lancashire County Councillors Cosima Towneley and Jeff Sumner campaigned to bring it back.

The service was cut by County Hall in 2014 but will hit the streets of Burnley from February 12 and travel between the bus station via Finsley Gate, Branch Road, Hufling Lane, Todmorden Road through Rosehill Via Moorland Road and back to the bus station via Manchester Road.

County Cllr Sumner said it was an ‘absolute winner’ for the area.

He said: “The bus is going to run past the big Tesco and it will stop pretty much outside it.

“This means people who live in Burnley Wood without a car will be able to hop on the bus, do their shopping, and come back home again.

“This has been a great achievement by all concerned, obviously my thanks go out to Cosima for helping me to bring this project to tuition and also the decision makers at County Hall for listening to our pleas on behave of the residents of Burnley Wood.

“The residents have really suffered since the removal of the bus in 2014, during the time since the loss of the bus I was stopped by disgruntled people telling me how badly let down they felt.

“A much missed bus service has been reinstated through the cross party working.

“With returning this life line back to Burnley Wood, I hope that it goes somewhere near to bringing some faith and hope back into the minds of the residents that there is people out there that do care for them.”

The news comes as the county council announced it plans to cut more than £11million from its budget.

If approved, more than £81m of savings would have been identified during this financial year.

The council said its financial position remains ‘extremely challenging’, with a forecasted funding gap of £144.492m in 2021/22.

County Cllr Towneley said: “I am absolutely delighted that this service has been restored by the present Conservative administration and it was a pleasure to do so in partnership with my colleague, Jeff Sumner.

“Connectivity between communities is more important than party politics.

“It is now up to residents to secure the future of the service by making full use of it.

“Thank you to the council officers for their hard work and assistance in restoring this service.

“I cannot wait to see the first bus make its first trip.”