Don't cut West Sussex buses

The proposed axing of the hourly 60 Sunday bus service between Chichester and Midhurst, isolating large villages like Lavant, will make travel on this day impossible for people without cars,and discriminate against the infirm and elderly, the young and disabled, and those choosing to encourage a greener alternative by abandoning the car on Sundays and public holidays.

Young and car- less employees working in rural areas on Sundays, and unable to car-share, rely on vital Sunday bus services for employment. The loss of the 60 Sunday bus will also hit employers.

Walkers and tourists using the Chichester to Midhurst Sunday 60 bus service to access huge swathes of the Southdown National Park, its numerous attractions, such as courses, evemts, festivals and functions held at West Dean College and Gardens, and The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, will become disenfranchised on Sundays and Bank Holidays from September 2011.

On Sundays there will be no access by public transport to The South Downs Way all the way between Bury and Hampshire.

The worrying proposal to stop subsidising the weekly early evening 60 bus service between Chichester and Midhurst after 6.30pm will prevent students living in areas without transport from attending evening classes at further and higher education colleges in Chichester and Midhurst.

More car use will also lead to increased traffic and road congestion, and ever more demand for more car parking spaces.

The subsidised Sunday 60 bus service between Chichester and Midhurst is not a luxury, but an essential service.

We only have until the 10th June to voice our concern.

WSCC must continue to subsidise this essential Sunday and evening 60 bus service.

Peter Lansley

Cedar Drive, Chichester