THE Journal is demanding Wiltshire Council end its plans to axe dozens of bus services – which could have disastrous consequences for rural communities.

As the council threatens to pull funding from subsidised routes across the county, this paper is launching a campaign to STOP BUS CUTS.

Six different plans are on the table to slash a £5million budget – including ending all subsidies.

Leaders in rural communities, which stand to be hit the hardest by any changes, have echoed the call, with Cllr Ian West from Wylye Valley saying it could be a “complete disaster”.

He said people were concerned for the early morning and evening “jobs bus”.

“People in rural communities rely on public transport,” he said.

“They feel as if they could be cut off completely.”

Mayor of Amesbury John Swindlehurst said youngsters using the evening services would suffer, forcing more people to use cars. The town council has written to Wiltshire Council calling for the hospital bus from Amesbury to be retained.

Cllr Graham Wright, who represents Durrington, said the way the consultation had been conducted was “intolerable”. He claims notices had not been put on buses which are partly subsidised, forcing him to place posters at stops himself.

It comes as the Campaign for Better Transport last week likened the proposed cuts in Wiltshire to the Beeching cuts, which closed more than 2,000 railway stations in the 1960s.

Evening services, Sunday buses and rural routes are all under threat. The council spends £2million on subsidising rural routes while evening buses after 7pm cost it nearly £650,000.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, cabinet member for transport, said 2,500 people had given their views.

He said: “Unless we collect all the data we will never end up with sustainable transport in Wiltshire. It is easy to make cuts.

“I could make cuts tomorrow and they would be forgotten about in six months. My aim is not to cut any services. If you can replace the same service with a community bus it is not a cut.”

The consultation starts on Monday and can be found here until April 4.. Paper copies can be picked up in council offices, libraries, on buses operating contracted services, or people can call 0300 456 0100 to have one posted to them.

Under threat, the full list of subsidised bus routes in south Wiltshire which could be cut if the council pull the plug on funding:

2..........................Devizes – Shrewton – Salisbury

X5 ...........Pewsey – Salisbury/Pewsey – Swindon

X7 ......................... Landford Diversion of service

X7R................ Salisbury – Whiteparish – Romsey

X12 ....... Salisbury – Coombe Bissett – Blandford

7/12/14..............................Salisbury City Services

R3/R5 ......Wilton & Salisbury City early morning

R2/R4/R6.................Salisbury City early morning

R8 .........Quidhampton to Salisbury (afternoons)

25,26,27....Mere – Tisbury – Hindon to Salisbury

25A.......................Heath Farm to Wilton Market

28.....Wincanton–Mere–Salisbury (Tues and Sat)

29.................Shaftesbury-Chalke Valley-Salisbury

37.... Salisbury-Grimsteads-Farley-Dean-Lockerley

39................Landford to Romsey (shoppers bus)

44 .........................Salisbury-Downton-Woodfalls

52.............Dinton-Tisbury to Warminster (Thurs)

66.....Salisbury-Winterbournes-Porton-Idminston

66/67.............Tidworth-Newton Toney-Salisbury

80.... Swindon-M’borough-Tidworth-Ludgershall

84/86.....East Knoyle to Salisbury or Shaftesbury

87........Winterslow to Salisbury (peak & Sat pm)

149...................... Charlton All Saints to Salisbury

158.. Shaftesbury–Gillingham–Mere–Wincanton

201.... Figheldean – Woodford Valley – Salisbury

210.......Figheldean – Upavon – Devizes Shopper

615..Larkhill to Avon Valley College (farepayers)

BAV ........Avon & Bourne Valley Community Bus Mere

TB ..... Mere area Taxibus A & G Minibuses

R1 .................. Salisbury Hospital evening service

R2/PR3/R4/R5..... Salisbury City evening services

X5 ............. Swindon to Salisbury evening service

Actv8.......... Salisbury – Tidworth – Andover pm

5..................Swindon – Marlborough – Salisbury

R2/R5/R6.............. Salisbury City Sunday services

Actv8......... Salisbury–Ames–Tidworth–Andover