PASSENGERS have reacted angrily this week to the news that subsidies for buses in the Petersfield area are to be axed. They are furious over financial cuts by Hampshire County Council which threaten some journeys on the 67 service between Petersfield and Winchester, as well as holiday journeys on the Alton to Petersfield 72 service. In addition, the 38 bus between Liss Forest and Portsmouth has been axed. And they are also deeply concerned that, they claim, decisions have been made without talking to the people who use the buses. Tony Shaw, chairman of the Petersfield Tomorrow Transport Group, said: "I had hoped that Hampshire County Council would have realised after the bus service cut fiasco at the end of last year that prior consultation with users is essential to avoid unnecessary anxiety and last minute change of plan. "However, we are again faced with rumour of more cuts with no details, and certainly no consultation." He said the replacement of the 38 by an extension of the 37 service meant there was no longer a direct bus to Queen Alexandra Hospital and Portsmouth. And worse, said Mr Shaw, was the decision to axe funding for some buses from Petersfield to Winchester. "The county council's executive member for environment, Mel Kendal, said he is prepared to 'take a gamble' that Stagecoach will continue to run the full service," said Mr Shaw. "This seems to display a cavalier attitude to services that are of vital importance to those who live in the many villages between Petersfield and Winchester. The proper course would surely have been to discuss the idea with the bus operator first and then the users." Mr Shaw added: "As the 72 is the only direct public transport link between Petersfield and Alton, and the only service to Selborne, the village will be cut off for weeks during school holidays and every Saturday – again no prior consultation about specific proposals has taken place and I doubt whether the local authorities were able to make their views known in advance." Hilary Ayer, East Hampshire District Council's community portfolio holder for youth and community, has also condemned the cuts. She said: "The loss of evening buses on the 18 service, which serves Bordon, Whitehill and the Heatherlands Estate in Headley Down, is a real blow. "Youngsters at Mill Chase School have repeatedly told us that they need an evening bus service to access facilities. In addition, a recent survey of Heatherlands residents shows that the lack of public transport is a key issue on the estate." Mrs Ayer said EHDC would be appointing an officer to look at transport issues. "They will be working closely with the county council on a pilot scheme to see if community transport minibuses can fill some of the gaps created by the loss of bus services." But this week leading Liberal Democrat Adam Carew, who opposed the cuts at the county council's decision day last week along with Petersfield Buster county councillor for the Lib Dems Sam Payne, said Mrs Ayer's comments had come too late in the day. "I am delighted that she has condemned the bus cuts made by her fellow Conservatives at county council," he said. "She is right to do so and we welcome her support, but frankly it's a bit late. "It's a pity that EHDC made no representation whatsoever to the portfolio holder before his decision day when these cuts were being made last Tuesday." He said EHDC was informed on July 17 about the proposals. "There was no verbal or written representation from any county or district Conservative councillor from East Hampshire area at all. "Sam Payne and I (both Liberal Democrats) gave verbal representations against these cuts. The portfolio holder did listen and said we had made a good case but made the cuts anyway."
