BUS routes in Poole could have their subsidies cut in the latest round of cost-savings proposed by the council.

Five services - the 7, 11, 32, 445 and H1 - have been earmarked for a reduction in or removal of the cash grant from the borough.

Among those affected are the school bus route between Bearwood/Merley and Allenbourn School in Wimborne, and two regular services through Broadstone, one of which has been threatened with cuts before.

Julian McLaughlin, head of growth and infrastructure at Borough of Poole, said: “The financial pressures on the council mean that some very difficult decisions have to be taken.

“Good progress has been made to reduce the bus subsidy budget through working with the bus companies to make savings with minimal impact on passengers.

“However, this is getting more challenging and the list of services drawn up with the bus companies will be valued by passengers.

“Council officers will be travelling on the journeys affected to talk to passengers as well as liaising with passenger representative groups and other organisations that may use the services.”

Borough figures show that last year it spent £598,000 subsidising bus services, and its forecast for this year is £472,000.

The proposals, which are currently open to public consultation, include cutting the Saturday service for route 7 A/B/C for a saving of £12,000, cutting the Sunday service for route 11 to save £6,858, cutting back route 32 to three days a week for £14,720, or dividing the route for a similar projected saving.

The 445 to Allenbourn School would be axed with the Morebus 4 service extended to cover its route in Wimborne.

The council also hopes to negotiate with bus firms for savings of £30,000 on other subsidised services without changes to routes or timetables.

Broadstone councillor Mike Brooke said it was the third time in recent years the 32 had been threatened.

“The buses that get subsidies are those which serve the outlying areas of Poole, so every time a service is cut it affects elderly and vulnerable people and results in social isolation,” he said. “And some people will need to get a car which just adds to traffic and pollution.

“Compared with the overall budget this is peanuts. It is just an easy thing to cut, and all these cuts predominantly affect those who should not be experiencing a reduction in services.

“We will be campaigning as we did for the No. 3 last year, the 32 the year before that and the year before that, and we urge people to use the buses and to comment to the council.”

The borough’s survey can be found in libraries or at poole.gov.uk/your-council/haveyoursay/consultation/bus-subsidies-2017, responses must be made by October 29.