RUNFOLD and Seale villagers are set to lose their bus link to Farnham and Guildford from July 23 after Stagecoach announced changes to the number 65 service.

The bus operator has long threatened to abandon the ‘old A31’ section of the 65 route, and citing the service’s poor punctuality and patronage, has finally carried out its threat.

However, the decision has been criticised by Seale and Sands Parish Council as it leaves the parish isolated without any routine bus services.

Bill Nelson, chairman of the council, said: “Surrey County Council notified Seale and Sands Parish Council that the bus route number 65 was now to be discontinued through the area which affects Runfold, Crooksbury Road and Compton Way. This would now mean no service for these villages.

“We have asked the local county councillor to pursue this matter on our behalf, but would urge those who do use the bus to inform Surrey County Council that you wish the bus to continue.”

Mr Nelson added Stagecoach’s decision leaves residents with “no other option” but to use their cars, adding to the area’s “congestion and badly maintained roads”.

It also leaves students trying to commute to colleges in Farnham, Guildford and Alton “handicapped”, he said.

The 65 bus currently runs approximately hourly on Mondays to Saturdays from Guildford via the A31 to Farnham and Alton, diverting near the Hog’s Back Hotel onto the ‘old A31’, through Runfold to the Shepherd & Flock Roundabout.

However, as of July 23, the 65 will no longer serve Runfold, instead operating direct via the A31.

The same bus will also no longer serve Wooteys Way, Manor Estate and Anstey Lane in Alton, while on Saturdays the 6.45pm from Guildford to Alton will terminate at Farnham and the 7.45pm from Alton to Farnham will no longer operate.

Explaining the decision, Mark Turner, commercial director of Stagecoach South, said: “Sadly ever increasing traffic congestion in Guildford and Farnham means that the current timetable in unworkable and the service has major reliability issues.

“The numbers travelling on the route are so low that the deployment of extra resources onto the route would be uneconomic and thus we have had to look for other options to allow the bus more time. This has been achieved by shortening the route in Alton and by omitting Runfold.

“Our passenger data indicated three to four passengers per day were using the service from Runfold hence the decision to change the route.”

The 65 service is operated by Stagecoach on a commercial basis and is not subject to a contractual arrangement with the county council, nor is public purse subsidy given.

As such, current legislation gives the bus operator the prerogative regarding the specification of the route and timetable.

A county council spokesman added: “We have had a number of discussions with Stagecoach in the past which have resulted in successfully keeping the route the same.

“However this time they have come to the decision they will be diverting the route due to lack of use in the Runfold area.”

It comes just months after Stagecoach axed the 7.35am Monday to Friday number 16 service from Badshot Lea to Aldershot, again citing “extremely low patronage”.

Responding to that decision in February, Farnham town councillor and public transport expert David Beaman said the reduction in bus services across Surrey is like “death by a thousand cuts” and called for the provision of bus services to meet identified social need to be made mandatory.

The Farnham Demand Responsive Transport Service (operated by Waverley Hoppa on behalf of Surrey County Council) will continue to offer a weekday link to and from Farnham for customers in Runfold.

For more information visit the website www.hoppa.org.uk or call 01428 681701 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm.