STAGECOACH has resumed running night buses on two routes in Winchester city centre, saving money for the council tax payer.

The firm is now operating the number 1 and 5 services that operate from Stanmore, through the city centre to Winnall, instead of them being supported by the Winchester Town Forum.

The forum, which comprises councillors from the city wards, is continuing to subsidise the number 3 service on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Forum chairman Anne Weir told the meeting last Wednesday evening that Stagecoach’s decision meant the city council would look at using the savings for spending on other things.

She said at the forum last Wednesday: “It’s good news. The viability of the night buses is such that Stagecoach is looking to reintegrate them into regular commercial services.”

The town forum is the city equivalent of a parish council only getting involved in issues that solely relate to the city wards and not to the surroundings villages or the rest of the district.