ANGRY Liss residents have launched a campaign this week to save bus and train services after claiming they had been turned into second-class citizens by public transport providers.

Their action comes after the news that Liss and Liphook look set to lose six trains a day between 10 am and 4 pm, cutting the South West Trains service to one an hour. This is despite the fact that Liss fought hard for many years to get two London trains every hour.

In addition Stagecoach is to cut its 38 bus service north of Petersfield and 72 service from Alton to Petersfield.

Liss Parish Council is to write to South West Trains and Stagecoach condemning their proposals and registering strong objections.

Councillors are also contacting the Department of Transport and the Countryside Agency, pointing out that the government was aiming for sustainable transport and yet buses and trains were being axed in the rural area of Liss.

A meeting is also being sought between parish councillors and Stagecoach.

One resident, representing the elderly with no other form of transport, has also enlisted the help of East Hampshire MP Michael Mates to save the bus service.

Ronald Mells told Mr Mates this week many villagers would be devastated by the loss of the buses: ÒThis proposal will mean that we are completely cut off from doctorsÕ surgeries, hospitals and local shops, as well as making it very difficult for people to work and children going to school.Ó

Parish councillor Sue Halstead told fellow parish councillors at a meeting on Monday: ÒWe must oppose the cut in the train service. We fought for many years to get two trains an hour at Liss.Ó

She told the meeting villagers currently suffered a Òlousy, slow, dirty train service.Ó

And Paddy Payne added: ÒIn transport terms you are a second class citizen living in Liss. Stagecoach were given the franchise and they should give us a proper service.Ó

ÒIt seems that we have an increasing population and a decreasing service,Ó Howard Clark told fellow parish councillors.

ÒThe reduction in bus services makes me see red,Ó said Nigel Paren.

ÒSustainable transport is what the government is aiming at and so is the Countryside Agency for the gateways to the new national park..Ó

He said Liss should carry out its own survey to see how much the services were used: ÒIf this reduction in service goes ahead Liss will have less of a transport service than Rogate, Harting or the Meons. We have to remember that there are 44 people in the parish who have concessionary transport passes and they are totally dependent on public transport.Ó

Commenting on Hampshire County CouncilÕs decision to withdraw subsidies for some under-used bus services executive member for environment Keith Estlin said: ÒOur research shows that on some services the cost per passenger can be more than £5 for each journey. All of the journeys from which we are withdrawing support have fewer than five passengers per trip.Ó

ÒThese reductions will save £138,000 which can be used more effectively in other ways.

ÒThe passenger transport group is working on a number of initiatives to meet passenger needs in a more demand-responsive manner to ensure better value for money.Ó

Mr Estlin added: ÒThere are only a few people using these services and IÕm confident that the overall package of developments for the next financial year demonstrates that the county council continues to invest in public transport as an important means of tackling social exclusion and offering a viable alternative to the private car.Ó

l PETERSFIELD commuters can expect to see more trains arriving on time this winter as plans are prepared to improve the service between Waterloo and Portsmouth.

South West Trains set up a taskforce earlier this year to identify the causes of regular delays on the network.

It was decided that there should be more Ôturn-aroundÕ time between services to ensure that delays in outward journeys did not also mean late-running return journeys.

And in order to provide the extra time South West Trains is planning to cut its off-peak services. This means that there will be two trains an hour each way instead of three during off- peak hours from Petersfield.