BORDON'S elderly bus users have been hit by a sucker punch from the county council this week, after it announced a wave of cuts to vital bus services to help fund elderly care. The move, which will see further reductions to the already limited bus services, was made by Hampshire County Council last Tuesday, in a bid to raise £500,000 to pay for 'Adult Services', the service designed in part, to help the elderly. The 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' decision, will see money taken out of many evening and Sunday bus services resulting in huge reductions in the very transport service many of the countys elderly rely on. The move, which comes on the back of previous cuts, which outraged bus users, will result in extended journey times, and was roundly slammed by some councillors. Whitehill and Bordon councillor Adam Carew said: "The council claims these cuts will affect a small percentage of Hampshire bus users, but this is people we are talking about. "These cuts will affect another 390, 000 passenger journeys across Hampshire and will see a substantial decline in weekend, off-peak and evening services." He added: "East Hampshire has probably had as many cuts as it can take. "This latest assault on vital bus services is going in exactly the wrong direction. "To combat climate change and cut traffic congestion we are supposed to be encouraging a modal shift away from the car and onto public transport." Chris Perry, the director of Age Concern Hampshire, said: "Transport for elderly people is vital in combating social isolation. From next April, the Government will provide all over 65s with free off peak bus fairs – so they have obviously recognised the importance of keeping active and sociable. However, without the bus service, there's not much point in having free fare. "These cuts are a short-sighted move, as the council will be putting more money into the dependent elderly, but taking away the independence of others." Petersfield Butser Hill councillor Samantha Payne said: "These cuts are a cut too far. Hampshire is supposed to be a listening council but there is little evidence of that. "If the last few years are anything to go by we can expect more cuts in the pipe line – only one thing remains certain – none of our bus routes are safe." The council's executive member for environment, Melville Kendal, said: "It was agreed in the budget in February that the council needed to make savings of £500,000 in order to fund increases in the cost of Adult Services. "The cost of funding for older people has increased dramatically, and we must now make savings to accommodate for that. "Any reduction to services is regrettable, but very few of the services affected have an average of more than 10 passengers, and the majority have a far lower average of passengers." The council stated that only 1.4 percent of all bus service have been affected, and only six per cent of the subsidised services will suffer. The bus companies affected by the cuts now have 56 days notice before funding is stopped. It is expected that during this time, bus operators will make the decision to scrap or save the affected services. Mr Kendal added: "These bus services are run commercially, so it does not necessarily follow that these bus routes will be cut completely. "The companies may decide to continue running them." The following services have been affected: The off peak journeys for the Number 67, which runs from Petersfield via Cheriton to Winchester, have been cut back. The No 72 from Alton to Petersfield has had the weekday services cut back during the school holidays. The number 13 from Alton to Liphook via Whitehill has also had the weekday service cut back during school holidays. The number 18 from Aldershot to Farnham, Bordon and Haslemere will no longer run past 7.15pm in the evening. The number five to Basingstoke North Hampshire Hospital will also be affected.
