A park and ride site threatened with closure has been saved after council bosses picked a new company to run its bus services.

Postwick Park and Ride sitePostwick park and ride site (Image: Newsquest) Postwick park and ride site, on the eastern edge of Norwich, was facing the axe because of the amount of money Norfolk County Council was spending to subsidise bus services.

It has been spared after a major contract shake-up which will see the company that has run the city's park and ride buses for almost a decade replaced.

Norfolk County Council launched a retendering process for all park and ride services in the summer and was clear it would not provide subsidies to operators.

The Conservative-controlled council has revealed the companies which have been successful with Konectbus, which has run services since 2015, missing out.

The contract for Postwick park and ride services, and those from Harford, has now gone to Central Connect operated by Diss-based Simonds.

Thickthorn Park and Ride siteThickthorn park and ride site (Image: Archant)

First Buses has won the contract to run park and ride services from Thickthorn and Norwich Airport.

The Sprowston park and ride site will be opened up to operators to use as a transport hub on city routes.

First Bus has said it will include that site within its pink line service, connecting Sprowston to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital via the city centre.

Norwich's Park and Ride services will have new operators next yearNorwich's park and ride services will have new operators next year (Image: Denise Bradley)

The decision to keep services running at the 552-parking space Postwick site comes as a surprise, with the council having signalled it was ready to shut it to save £150,000.

The changes are due to come into effect from next April.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructureGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council)Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "Operators have impressed us with their creativity for the services and I’m certain that both First and Central Connect Transport Limited can create a service for residents that is sustainable for the future.

"During these times of increased financial pressures within local government we have to be careful with every penny we spend.

"That’s why we made it our ambition to find a solution so that this service can be run without any subsidy."