The Labour-Liberal Democrat led Milton Keynes City Council has been forced into a major u-turn by local Conservatives as it announced it will now subsidise the number 41 bus through Olney.
Local Conservatives including Olney ward councillor David Hosking and Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt have been campaigning non-stop for this service to return, with Cllr Hosking putting forward an amendment to the council budget calling for it to be restored.
It is a victory for Milton Keynes Conservatives but they remain concerned the funding is only for a limited period and call on the council to ensure a long-term solution is in place.
They are also calling on the council to support the number 33/A which no longer runs through Bancroft Park and Blue Bridge, as well as the number 18 through Simpson, Woolstone, Woughton-on-the Green.
MK Council had known about the problems with the service since May 2022 but failed to act before Ben stepped in and organised a meeting with bus operator Stagecoach. This was followed up with a meeting with Transport Minister Richard Holden who reminded the council of the funding the Government provides to subsidise such services.
This included in excess of £224,000 for January-March this year alone with a similar amount set to be provided from April-June.
Ben raised the issue numerous times in the House Of Commons and hundreds of local people have backed his campaign for better bus services in Milton Keynes by responding to his bus survey.
In council meetings, leader Pete Marland has been adamant they would not subsidise anymore bus services but the pressure from the local Conservatives has forced him into a humiliating climbdown.
Cllr Hosking submitted an amendment to this year's council Budget calling on funding to reinstate the 41 service but every single Labour and Liberal Democrat councillor voted against it.
Just weeks out from the local elections, the pressure from local Conservatives has paid off and the council has now completed a massive u-turn, but they remain concerned this is only a temporary measure and does not guarantee a permanent return of the bus.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "It's incredibly frustrating it's taken Milton Keynes City Council until just weeks before the local elections to act on this. They've allowed Olney residents to go without a bus service since last year just to get some good PR before an election.
"Local Conservatives have forced them into this embarrassing u-turn. We've never given up on the people of Olney. We submitted amendments, met with Ministers, got residents' opinions in surveys, spoke to Stagecoach and kept the pressure on the council.
"While this is a big success for us, it’s not a long-term solution and the council now need to also step in and reverse cuts in Bancroft Park, Blue Bridge, Simpson, Woolstone and Woughton-on-the Green."