THE only remaining bus to service Boscombe Pier has been scrapped - with its last journey taking place in less than a week.

Yellow Bus route 41, which runs between Throop and Boscombe Pier, will take its last ride on Friday, August 26.

The service, which is subsidised by Bournemouth Borough Council, has been scrapped as part of an attempt to save money in the face of further budget cuts.

The decision was made following a public consultation in May this year.

The council claims the use of the route is “very limited” and the council subsidy per paying passenger journey is higher than any other supported service.

But Boscombe ward councillor Phil Stanley-Watts has slammed the decision and promised to fight until the last day to try and keep the service.

“They say the route is very limited but it is vital to a lot of elderly people in the area,” said Cllr Stanley-Watts.

“There are a number of buses that service Boscombe, but this was the last remaining bus that went all the way to the pier.

“It will be a sad day when that opportunity of being able to get the bus to Boscombe beach is taken away.”

Cllr Stanley-Watts has told the Echo he is still hoping to get the service re-instated.

“Even if it became a service that just went from the bottom to the top of the seafront that would be better than nothing,” he added.

“For many elderly people walking back uphill from the beach can be impossible.

“That means many of our residents could choose to get the bus to Bournemouth beach rather than staying in Boscombe.

“There are a lot of people that want to try and stop it from being pulled and I have promised to keep the protest going.”

A council statement on the proposals reads: “For a number of years the council has worked in partnership with the bus operators to reduce the financial commitment, but The ongoing financial situation means that that further savings from this budget need to be proposed for the 2016-17 financial year.

“The council has looked very carefully at all the bus routes it supports and has had to make difficult suggestions for which routes we can no longer continue to fund.”

Jeff Clayton, head of network development at Yellow Buses, said: “Service 41 runs three times a day, Monday to Friday, between Throop and Boscombe Pier.

“Unfortunately, due to the withdrawal of public subsidy, the service is not sustainable on a commercial basis and, therefore, will be withdrawn from the end of this month.”