A HASLEMERE bus user has hit out at Stagecoach after rising costs forced Surrey County Council to withdraw a number of local evening and Sunday services.
Kenneth Dexter, 73, from Pathfields Close, says the move contradicts recent government policy which seeks to fund and promote public transport in urban and rural areas.
"As an occasional user of local buses this decision, because of an apparent impasse between funders and fundees, makes me very angry."
Surrey County Council's executive member for transport, Helyn Clack, said the council was left with no choice but to withdraw services as it was unable to meet the extra 20 per cent in costs which the bus operators wanted.
Mr Dexter continued: "I think during the day, Stagecoach is doing a pretty good job, it's just the evenings where there are problems. The latest withdrawal of services is a step in the wrong direction.
"You see many people standing around at bus stops in the evening, and without these services it will be a major problem, particularly for those with probably no other means of getting around."
Mr Dexter has further criticised the bus company for what he describes as having "very poor communication" with the public.
"As an operator of both train and bus services, this company has done little or nothing to inform late-evening passengers coming off trains at Haslemere that there are buses running past the station.
"A large-print notice in the station pointing out these facilities would be infinitely more effective than the small-print timetable which not everyone has the time or patience to read."
He continued: "Often late evening buses operate after dark with the destination blind switched off and almost all internal lights switched off so it looks like they're not in service which is unhelpful. Stagecoach needs to pay more attention to their evening services."
Operations manager at Stagecoach, Graham Harmer, said: "We were disappointed for our customers that there is an end to some of the evening and Sunday services. However, that is a decision made by Surrey County Council.
"We have asked for an increase in funding but that is due to increases in fuel, insurance, and drivers' wages which will always go up.
"With regard to alerting train users that there are buses running past the station, it is something we will look at and work with South West Trains to make an improvement.
"As for buses travelling with the destination blind switched off, we would expect either the driver or a member of the public to report this and it will be rectified.
"It is certainly not in our interest for buses to travel without a destination sign."
Mr Harmer added: "I cannot believe that buses have travelling at night with the internal lights switched off as this wouldn't be lawful or safe."
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, Janet Maines, strongly criticised Conservative councillors on Surrey County Council for voting unanimously against debating a motion to oppose the decision to cut night and weekend bus services.
"This is a very serious and urgent matter for many people in Surrey. The Conservatives on SCC showed a complete lack of democratic sense when they refused to debate the issue. I was outraged that I had been prevented from standing up and speaking for my residents.
"These cuts will affect around a quarter of a million bus journeys."