CHILDREN could be left unable to get to school and residents to work if Borough of Poole forges ahead with up to £150,000 bus subsidy cuts.

The council is consulting on changes to 11 services it pays for across the town, three of which are school services, as the borough faces budget pressures of £13.5million over the next three years.

“It will impact on people’s lives if we take their services away,” said John McVey, passenger transport and accessibility manager, Borough of Poole.

“It is very important people respond to this. We want to give members as much information as possible to help them make their decision. It isn’t going to be an easy decision for them.”

The council spends £750,000 paying for bus services that are not commercially viable and the last round of cuts which came into force in May, saved just under £100,000 through the bus company reducing contract prices, combining and reducing services.

“That didn’t impact on huge numbers of passengers,” said Mr McVey.

“We were able to make savings without too much pain.”

However now residents are threatened with the loss of daytime services, which could leave some areas of town without public transport. Choices will have to be made as proposals put forward exceed the necessary saving.

“We are facing unprecedented budget cuts in Poole and this means we have to make some very difficult decisions,” said Cllr Ian Potter, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation.

“Following discussions with the bus companies and councillors, the proposed routes have been identified for reduction or withdrawal. We appreciate the importance of the bus service to many local residents.

“We will be liaising directly with schools and other community groups that maybe affected, but we would really encourage all bus users to take part in this survey and give us their views.”

Details of the proposals are on boroughofpoole.com, there is an online feedback form and survey staff will be talking to passengers on the threatened routes in October. The consultation runs until Friday December 5. There is a free postal address and hard copies can be obtained from transportation@poole.gov.uk.

The proposals

1. More Bus route 15, the only direct service from Poole to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, cut the last daily service and the Saturday service, saving £30,500.

2. Yellow Buses route 20, hourly from Poole to Castlepoint via Bournemouth Square, serving Lilliput and Penn Hill, withdraw subsidy, save £54,000.

3. More Bus route 32, Poole through Merley and Kinson to Bournemouth, either withdraw Saturday service saving £5,600 or run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday saving £24,000 – links with 128.

4. Yellow Buses route 36, Talbot View, Wallisdown to Kinson, would leave Surrey Road without a bus service, saving £9,500.

5. More Bus route 50, Bournemouth to Swanage across the chain ferry, cut winter Sunday service, saving £3,000 and cut the winter weekday service saving £18,000.

6. More Bus route 52, Poole to Sandbanks ferry, cut winter service, saving £16,200.

7. More Bus route 128, Poole through Creekmoor to Upton Country Park, either withdraw the service saving £21,600, or run it Mondays, Wednesday and Friday saving £9,500 – links with 32.

8. Damory school service 445, Bearwood and Merley to Allenbourn School, cut it, saving £27,700.

9. School service 462, Merley, Corfe Hills and Broadstone Middle Schools, cut it saving £28,000.

10. More Bus school service 744, Old Town to Oakdale Junior School, cut it saving £11,000.