GREATHAM and BlackmoorÕs worst fears were confirmed on Tuesday when Hampshire County Council announced that part of the threatened No 38 bus service would not be saved.

Villagers battled to save the service, writing letters to local authorities to try to stop the section of the route from Liss Forest to Whitehill, from being axed.

But despite their efforts, Hampshire County CouncilÕs executive member for the environment, Keith Estlin, gave the go-ahead to plans to axe it.

On-bus surveys undertaken by the county council and data from bus operator StagecoachÕs ticket machine failed to prove that the section of the service, covering just two stops at Greatham and Blackmoor, was viable, a report to Mr Estlin said.

The No 38, provided by Stagecoach, stopped operating between Liss Forest and Whitehill from June 2 because the operator said the service was not used by enough passengers.

It was therefore up to the county council to find a subsidy for the route - if it was to stay in operation.

Mr Estlin approved a £60,000 subsidy from the county council to maintain the section of the service between Petersfield and Liss Forest because it met value for money criteria.

Negotiations between the county council and Stagecoach resulted in the service being linked to what remains of service 38 to provide a through-service from Portsmouth to Liss Forest.

And school time journeys from Bordon and Whitehill taking pupils to schools in Petersfield were also secured under the plans.

The decision to save one part of the service and axe the other was made after passenger data showed the majority of passenger journeys were concentrated into the section of the route between Petersfield and Liss Forest/Greatham.

ÒA timetable was devised to cater for these journeys. Although priced at £60,000 for a Monday-to-Saturday service, the Ôcost per passengerÕ was £1.61,Ó said the report.

The contract for the service between Liss Forest and Petersfield will operate until the October school half-term when it will be reviewed to see if a different or most cost effective solution can be found.

But Blackmoor villagers will now have to walk to Whitehill or Greatham to catch a bus, as the No 38 service was the only bus which served the village.

And Greatham villagers are now left with only service No 72, which operates between Alton and Petersfield and is far less frequent than the No 38.

The No 72 was due to be withdrawn on Saturdays as part of the proposed service reduction package, but it will be now retained.

The previously threatened Saturday service of the No 13, which serves Alton, Whitehill and Liphook, has been secured, but reduced to two return journeys

And the 221/2 Bordon/Whitehill shopping bus, which operates a circular route from Mill Chase Road to the Forest Shopping Centre, via Whitehill and Oakhanger has also been secured.

However, Whitehill Town Council is not prepared to give up its battle to save the No 38 service to Whitehill.

The planning and amenities committee on Monday heard that MP James Arbuthnot, who was contacted by the town council, had stated that he would raise the matter with the minister for transport Alistair Darling and the leader of Hampshire County Council.

Members were pleased with the result and agreed to thank Mr Arbuthnott and ask him to keep Òplugging awayÓ.