Credit where credit is due...

TOWN Hall bosses often get a bashing in this column for the running of the authority.

But this week it is appropriate to hand some praise to our authority chiefs who have so swiftly stepped in to try to save five bus services.

Let's give credit where credit is due.

Only a day after ACL Travel ceased trading, replacement buses were out in force restoring the transport lifelines to villages and towns.

Plaudits must go to the authority's officers who evidently stepped up to the plate on Monday, entering emergency talks with other bus companies to secure the vital routes.

Only months ago ACL Travel was branching out to cover more services in the region, leaving many to believe the company was at last providing earnest competition to First Bus.

Its failure will perhaps be most disappointing for the people of Hutton, who had recently heralded ACL Travel after stepping in to fill a route from the village that had been dropped.

First Bus and Coombs Travel will now cover the services for two weeks until the official tenders are released.

Let us all cross our fingers the routes will be covered for the long-term and dependent villagers are not left stranded.