SURREY County Council has slammed the brakes on a bid to improve bus links between Whitehill and Farnham.

The council and their Hampshire counterparts were recently allocated a combined £15 million in additional government funding to improve cross-county bus services.

Farnham councillor David Beaman suggested the 18 would be ripe for investment given the huge development around Bordon and the benefit for rail commuters.

But he’s been told that both councils and Stagecoach do not consider the 18 a “candidate route for investment” and have earmarked the 65 for extra funding.

The move is likely to cause ire as the towns linked by the 65 – Alton, Farnham and Guildford – already have a rail link and direct services to London Waterloo.

Operators Stagecoach believe there is “scope for passenger growth” on the 65 and an increased chance of a permanently enhanced service with the investment.