THE Southend SOS Bus may be in line for a return after council bosses confirmed there may be enough cash to fund it again from early next year.

The first aid response service operated across the borough, helping people out on the town on Friday and Saturday nights.

The service was initially set up by the YMCA but was put into financial difficulties in 2017 when the council chose to shift funding to an alternative service which failed to deliver.

Earlier this year the council signalled it could be saved when it allocated a small grant to the YMCA so it could continue to deliver assistance over the summer.

But despite the bus helping 49 people during that period, the council chose to withdraw funding after a review which showed significantly fewer people going into the town centre each night.

But at a full council meeting, Trevor Harp, who is responsible for Southend’s health and adult social care, said a review is being planned and the authority will decide at the beginning of the year what can “sustainably” be put in place.

He spoke after Leigh town councillor and SOS bus trial team leader, Alan Hart, urged councillors to rethink the funding cut, insisting that “lower footfall has no bearing on the potential number of casualties”.

Speaking of the 13 years the bus has operated, Mr Hart added: “The question is where would these casualties have gone without this service? The girl with the restraining order who ex-partner turns up? The man who was assaulted and bleeding? The tipsy girl who lost her friends and was alone? The accident we stabilised before even the paramedics could arrive? The cases we took to hospital without the need for an ambulance? The unhappy souls kicking off in the street that would have attracted police response?

“The SOS bus has covered all of these and thousands more. During the period of provision, millions have been saved for both police and hospitals through our efforts.”

Mr Harp said: “Following wider engagement with partners throughout the summer of 2019... and having received feedback about the positive contribution that the volunteers of the SOS Bus have made and this being held in high regard by all parties, the council will work with the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Board to undertake an intensive discovery design phase, to explore what options can be developed for due consideration. There is good evidence that the SOS Bus-type arrangement can have a vital part to play in our night-time economy and a plethora of local support in perception around community safety.”

He added there is an opportunity for the service to support events, bank holidays and preparing for summer and winter. He added the review will take place in “early 2020”.