A service that provides bus links to rural villages will be on the road for at least another three years, it has been revealed.

Village Link provides connections from Harwich to Clacton, stopping at several villages along the way.

It is run by Essex County Council and funded through the Government. Cash has now been secured to ensure the service will continue until at least 2006.

Harwich MP Ivan Henderson said he had enquired about the future of rural bus grants and John Spellar MP, at the Department for Transport, had replied with the good news.

He said: "The outcome of our bus subsidy review is that the grants will continue for two further years until March 2006.

"As also announced, we will be considering some modifications to the scheme, in particular to extend the range of services for which the grant can be used and to give greater emphasis to the delivery of outputs and improved accessibility."

He added Essex County Council had been told of the 2003/04 allocation just before the last Budget. Mr Henderson welcomed the news as a bonus to the community.

Village Link first started in 1999. It runs services from Clacton to Harwich via Great Oakley, Little Oakley and Dovercourt, as well as going from Mistley to Clacton, via Lawford and Manningtree

Published Friday, May 30, 2003

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