Vital bus service for the town saved from closure

Campaigners have saved the town's treasured number 12 bus link between Littlehampton, Rustington and Wick

The future of the number 12 Compass bus had been in the balance, with the service’s contract set to end on March 31.

Littlehampton Town Council has been fighting for two years to maintain the route, a vital lifeline for many elderly residents.

Now a new agreement between the town council and Rustington Parish Council, combined with cash from the Morrisons development, in Wick, has been arranged to fund the service for another year.

Chairman of the town council’s planning and transportation committee, councillor Jill Long, said: “My colleagues and I are delighted that the town council and partners have found a way to extend the service for another year.

“The number 12, or the town bus as it’s commonly known, is an essential part of our community infrastructure and it would be sad to see it go.”

Compass Travel operations manager Andrew McKinnon said the route was ‘very popular’ and that he was ‘very pleased’ that the services had been saved.

Discussions on long-term solutions to provide bus services across the town, taking in future housing developments, will continue.

The bus runs Monday to Saturday, mostly every hour. It travels from Sainsbury’s in Rustington to the village centre in The Street, then along Sea Road, into Littlehampton, past Mewsbrook Park, continuing to Anchor Springs, Courtwick Road, Wick, The Crossways and Tesco, at Broadpiece, before making the return trip.