All aboard the returned Swanscombe 455 Arriva bus service.

After huge public outcry and overwhelming support for a return to its old route, the 455 will once again run through the village via Church Road, Swanscombe Street, Gunn Road, Bodle Avenue, Manor Road and Milton Street before rejoining the existing route at Craylands Lane.

The bus itself runs from Valley Drive to Dartford via Swanscombe.

Arriva’s Simon Baxter said, “We have had competing demands from our passengers.

“To try to get an objective view of the situation we went out to public consultation delivering questionnaires to some 2,700 households in the area combined with an online questionnaire.

“The response was clear cut: an overwhelming 89 per cent of respondents want us to change things back to how they had originally been – and that is exactly what we are doing.”

According to the bus company, the alternative route along Milton Road was introduced in October following a number of requests.

To comment on Arriva routes and timetables, email talktous@arriva.co.uk, or write to Marketing Team, Arriva, Invicta House, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TX.