PROPOSED changes to bus services in Surrey could isolate passengers in the rural areas around Farnham, it has been warned.

Surrey County Council this week launched a consultation on changes to bus services as part of its Local Transport Review, and is inviting comments from the public until March 14.

In Farnham, services affected include routes 4/5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 46 and 65 - all operated by Stagecoach with subsidies from the county council.

As part of the changes, the existing route 4 bus would no longer serve Folly Hill, with the village instead served by a “limited” service on route 16 - meaning passengers travelling from Folly Hill to Farnham will be forced on a lengthy detour via Hale and Weybourne.

Route 16 would also be “expanded” beyond its current three off-peak return journeys from Monday to Friday, to give more journeys for Badshot Lea to Farnham.

However, details of the enhanced service are yet to be confirmed and a re-routed number 46 bus would leave out Badshot Lea entirely - severing the village’s only bus link to Aldershot and Guildford in favour of a new stop in Weybourne.

Rowledge would also be served by the enhanced route 16, but only at the expense of reduced services on the number 17 which would no longer travel between Farnham railway station, Wrecclesham, Rowledge and Shortheath - instead connecting the station with Elstead, Godalming and Guildford (as service 46).

The county council has suggested the section between Wrecclesham, Rowledge and Shortheath “could be replaced by another service, to maintain current service levels in conjunction with service 18”.

Responding to the changes, public transport expert and former town councillor David Beaman said: “The consultation document is far from clear what is proposed apart from the total withdrawal of the section of route between Badshot Lea and Aldershot as well as a significant reduction in buses serving Folly Hill from April.

“It does, however, also appear that there is a possibility of service reductions between Rowledge and Farnham and between Badshot Lea and Farnham - both services currently operate hourly Monday to Saturday and their replacement service currently only operates three times per day off-peak Monday to Friday with no Saturday service. 

“One wonders how the significant housing development in Badshot Lea can now be thought to be sustainable with known and potential reductions in bus services?

View and comment on the changes before March 14 online at www.surreysays.co.uk or by picking up a booklet and questionnaire in local council offices, libraries and on buses in affected areas of Surrey.