RULING Conservatives on Surrey County Council will go ahead with cuts to bus services despite strong opposition from Liberal Democrats and Surrey residents.

The all Tory decision-making executive committee ignored a request to delay cuts to some Sunday and evening buses pending the results a so-called Best Value review in January.

But on Tuesday, the executive decided the cuts will go ahead as planned, in January.

This will mean the end of the No 18 and No 19 services between Aldershot and Haslemere via Farnham in the evenings and the end of the No 17 service between Aldershot and Rowledge on Sundays and bank holidays.

The council says it cannot afford to subsidise operator Stagecoach's increased costs.

Janet Maines, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said: "This is outrageous, I am really amazed by the arrogance displayed. I am most worried by the suggestion that there will be further cuts to the bus network next year, and this before any review has been completed.

"I do not believe that the Conservative administration on the county council has any intention to carry out any serious consultation either with the districts and boroughs or the bus companies themselves."

Mrs Maines described the executive's move to set up consultative groups to advise on the future of the bus network as a "sop" and "too little too late".