EVENING BUSES TO CONQUEST AXED

The No 26, 26a, 8 and 8a buses running to and from the hospital after 6.30pm will cease on September 1.

Operating company Stagecoach says there is not enough demand to keep running the services.

At present, hourly 26 or 26a buses leave the Conquest on The Ridge just after 7, 8 and 9pm. The last 26 bus to the town centre will now leave at 6.05pm. The No 8 and 8a services, which also includes the hospital in its route, will now leave Queens Road no later than 6.30pm. The last bus was previously 9.30pm.

Councillor Bob Hart said he was "appalled" at the decision.

He said: "I am very concerned at any reduction in the level of bus service in the town. This harms some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

"I am appalled to hear Stagecoach has done this."

Stagecoach operations manager Tom Bridge said the services were not viable because not enough people were using them.

He said: "These buses are always less than a third full. It is a decision taken for purely business reasons."

Mr Bridge added that the company was in talks yesterday with the county council to see if they would subsidise any of the services.

The last 26a bus back from the Conquest, the 9.06pm, was previously subsidised by the NHS Hospitals Trust and the Child Support Agency, which is based at Ashdown House on Harrow Lane.

Both decided to withdraw funding after Stagecoach said it was considering axing the service.

A spokesman for the Trust said managers were looking at alternatives to get their staff home safely.

Other changes to the timetable are less controversial. The 20-23 services will be rebranded as the Hastings Arrows with buses along London Road every five minutes.

Buses will now go along Blackman Avenue and Old Church Road every 10 minutes.

p What do you think about

these cuts? Email richard.purnell

@trbeckett.co.uk