PASSENGERS on the threatened Petersfield to Winchester bus service have launched a campaign to save what they claim is a vital link between the two towns. The campaign is headed by Petersfield Butser county councillor Sam Payne, who earlier this month failed to dissuade Hampshire County Council from their plans to drop the 67 bus from its list of subsidy cuts. Miss Payne, frustrated at the council's refusal to listen, took a petition out on the bus for passengers to add their weight to the cause. On Tuesday, Miss Payne set out with petition sheets and found dozens of passengers keen to rescue the service. Miss Payne said: "Everyone I asked was prepared to sign the petition." The county council subsidy for the number 67 service, which operates between Petersfield and Winchester, via West Meon and Alresford, is to be cut by four journeys a day. According to Hampshire County Council figures, this route has a high passenger usage of around 14 people per journey. The route also has one of the lowest subsidies and the council would only save £4,090 a year by cutting the service. Executive member for environment Mel Kendal has come under fire for gambling on Stagecoach, which runs the service, stumping up the extra funds in the event of a subsidy cut. But Stagecoach has decided not to pick up the bill and now the service is due to be cut on October 29. Mr Kendal denied the Lib Dems request to have the issue discussed at the Wednesday's Hampshire County Council meeting, so the petition became the only way to get the thoughts of the people across who are directly affected by the move – the passengers. Miss Payne said: "I asked the executive member if I could speak on it anyway, but he refused on grounds that Stagecoach would run the service anyway. They didn't but I decided to give him a second chance, which he refused on issues of council protocol." Having received fantastic support through her petition, Miss Payne added: "I'm hoping he'll listen to the signatures as I'm not able to speak at the meeting. I'm grateful to everyone who has written to him and signed the petition." Miss Payne gathered more than 100 signatures travelling only on the services set to be axed. She said: "I didn't want to be accused of getting information which didn't tie in with the cuts." While morning runs and school pick ups will remain on the service. the mid-morning and afternoon schedules face the chop. Miss Payne said the results of her survey proved the service was more popular than councillors were prepared to admit and that many of those surveyed "wouldn't be able to do without the buses". In addition to helping to reverse the decision by signing the petition, Miss Payne also urged disgruntled passengers to write to the executive member for environment. The address is: Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UD.
