Fury over cuts to bus services

From the archive, first published Wednesday 31st Oct 2007.

BUS services for school children and pensioners could be slashed in Southampton in a bid to save the council hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Hundreds of passengers who every week use the First Bus and City Loop services will be affected by the cutbacks.

Over-60s will also see their entitlement to free bus travel start at 9.30am, instead of 9am, to save more cash.

Today head teachers and pensioners condemned the move which they say will lead to increased school run traffic and make it more difficult for elderly people to travel within the city.

Don Harper, secretary of the Southampton Pensioners' Forum, said any bus service cuts would be "a step backwards."