AT a time when Alton is still waiting to hear if Stagecoach South is going to provide the new number nine bus with enough hours to provide a reasonable town centre service, Hampshire County Council is seeking to cut a further £4m from its public transport budget by withdrawing all remaining bus subsidies and stopping community transport services.

Public transport provision is just one area to come under scrutiny as the county council comes under pressure to address a £140m budget shortfall by April 2019.

The proposal, to be discussed next Tuesday (September 19) during the decision day of the county council executive member for environment and transport Rob Humby, is to withdraw all remaining bus subsidies, which cover 13 per cent of all Hampshire services, and to stop community transport services such as Dial-a-Ride and Call and Go.

A further £5.2m could potentially be saved by the introduction of a nominal fare of 50p for all journeys made by older people using concessionary travel passes.

The new number nine bus was introduced last month when Stagecoach decided to shorten the route taken by the 65 Alton to Guildford bus, by cutting out the loop which took in Alton’s Wootey and Manor estates on its way to and from the town centre.

But it only operates an inadequate two-hour service, Monday to Friday, giving insufficient time to do anything in town before returning home, and with no Saturday service.

According to regular passenger Jeremy Bayliss, the change really hit home over the August bank holiday weekend when Manor Estate residents who rely on the bus service were stranded, unable to get into town for three days.

Described by Stagecoach South managing director Gordon Frost as “only half a service”, local residents were hoping that he would fulfil a commitment to look at providing a four-hour service, but the new bus timetable has just come out and there has been no change.

Furthermore, Stagecoach South appears to be reluctant to make contact.

With councillors looking at community transport options to try to provide a reasonable service for those living at the eastern end of town, Tuesday’s debate, the results of which will be forwarded to cabinet and full council and be subject to public consultation, could be crucial in the formation of future plans to serve a community who, over the years, have placed their trust in public transport.