DELIGHTED Gornal residents have hailed a u-turn decision to restore a vital bus route through the Stickley estate.

Back in July, National Express changed the 297 / 297A service, claiming the route was underused, resulting in the service terminating at Gornal Wood.

The controversial move meant Stickley residents were forced to walk to the Gornal Wood terminal to get the bus, which travelled to Pensnett Trading Estate, Merry Hill and Russells Hall Hospital.

Ward councillors launched a petition to reinstate the bus, which was handed into North Dudley Area Committee and referred to Centro, who have now announced plans to extend the current 297 service, to once again cover the axed estate.

The new route, which is set to come into force onApril 1, will now begin in the Stickley estate and travel onto Gornal Wood, Pensnett Trading Estate, Pensnett, Russells Hall Hospital, Brierley Hill, Merry Hill, Quarry Bank, Cradley Heath, Old Hill and Halesowen.

Gornal ward councillor David Stanley, said: “I am more than pleased with the response from National Express. It is giving the Stickley people a service back which has been sorely missed.

“We have been told the first bus will leave Stickley at 7.13am, which will allow people to get to their jobs on the Pensnett Trading Estate and Merry Hill and get to hospital appointments in time.”

A National Express spokesman said: “We have listened to passenger comments and acted upon them. The service will be an extension at either side of the current route.”