A WELL-USED bus route in Newport, which users feared was set to change, will not be amended by Southern Vectis.

Route 38 — which loops between Newport bus station, Carisbrooke, and back to the town centre — may have been altered to avoid traffic-clogged Hinton Road.

Councillor Chris Whitehouse, of Newport West Ward, and Pete Whiteman, town councillor for the ward, met with senior Southern Vectis managers to discuss the concerns of local residents over the potential diversion.

Cllr Whitehouse said: "I have been assured that there will be no change to either the timetable or the route of the number 38 bus in Newport. This is great news for local residents.

"What we’ve now got to do is to sort out the parking in Hinton Road so the bus can actually get through and I’m working on that right now."

The councillor said any change to the route would have created difficulties for local residents — particularly those with young children, heavy shopping or mobility challenges who rely upon the bus to get to the shops and doctor's appointments.

"It's good to know Southern Vectis listen to local concerns and are willing to find alternative solutions."

Cllr Whithouse also raised concerns about smoking in Newport Bus Station.

He added: "Smoking in Newport Bus Station is illegal. Those who do smoke are breaking the law and indulging in anti-social behaviour. I’m delighted to say that Southern Vectis will soon be including warnings in their regular tannoy messages to ensure that all users of the Bus Station are regularly reminded of the smoking ban."

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