Poorly used buses axed

The county council says the number 19 Eastbourne-Pevensey-Bexhill-Battle service has been running as a subsidised service since last October, replacing Eastbourne Buses commercial Service 19.

Some poorly-used weekday afternoon journeys will be curtailed, as will some journeys on Saturdays.

The 5.35pm no. 95 Little Common to Turkey Road service is being withdrawn as are some journeys on Saturdays.

All changes come into effect on October 29.

The county says: East Sussex County Council now funds nearly all bus services within the county outside the Eastbourne and Hastings areas.

Due to higher costs as a result of increases in fuel and wages, fewer services in East Sussex are now provided on a commercial basis by bus operators.

East Sussex County Council has found it necessary to step in and fund the continuation of bus services on an increasing number of occasions because of commercial service withdrawals.

This has resulted in considerable additional expenditure falling on the county council which, if left to continue, would result in an overspend of 465,000 from the passenger transport budget in the current financial year.

To contain this overspend, in May of this year, the county council withdrew funding from the evening and Sunday services it supported.

However, future economies are still required in the light of operators increased prices when contracts have to be awarded.

Cllr Anthony Reid, lead cabinet member for transport and environment, says: I encourage the public to use their bus service because greater use will lead to improved services...