A KEY bus route linking Tesco on the A127 with Eastwood and Leigh could soon make a return after years of campaigning, it has been revealed.

The Echo understands funding has been agreed for the return of a north to south bus route for Southend and Leigh and a search will now be launched for an operator.

It comes after years of complaints from residents and councillors pressing for the return of the old 23A bus route that connected Eastwood and Leigh.

Cash for the bus service has been earmarked, it is understood, and Southend and Essex county council are working towards the “link bus” route from the Airport Business Park and terminating at Leigh station, allowing people to easily get onto a major bus route such as the 9 or 21A.

The bus service would be every 30 minutes, in Southend, linking the Airport Business Park with a double run to Tesco on the A127.

It would then take in Whitehouse Road, Rayleigh Road, Progress Road, The Fairway, Eastwood Road, Blenheim Chase, Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh town centre and Leigh Station.

Independent Belfairs councillor, Stephen Aylen, praised the collaboration of councillors to return the north to south link and added “it is so close” to being finalised.

Mr Aylen said: “It is excellent, and it is so close to being done, you will be able to get the bus to Belfairs easier and it will boost business into the area and cut down on unnecessary car journeys.

“It will be called a ‘link route’, that will link lots of bus routes up and you could travel from Belfairs and get to Rayleigh Road easily and catch buses to almost anywhere. It will go to places like the business park and let people get to the where they need to go, the hospital for instance and other places.” ”

Mr Aylen thanked Lib Dem councillor Paul Collins and Tory Kevin Buck and fellow councillors who have “helped to support this route”.

Pam Watson, 67, from Eastwood, said: “I’m keen for this to happen, I live in Eastwood and the only way to Leigh is into Southend and then out again. The other week I was meeting friends in Leigh and went to the hospital and when the buses are less frequent and it is dark, I felt I couldn’t risk waiting for a bus and just paid for a cab instead. It will very positive.”