TRANSPORT bosses at Borough of Poole (BOP) have agreed to cut two bus services as part of a deal to make £55,400 savings.

Five council-subsidised services had been up for the axe, but members of the authority's Transport Advisory Group (TAG) decided only the A445 Allenbourn School service and the first Saturday journey from Broadstone on the Yellow Buses H1 would be cut.

This means a reprieve for the 7, 11 and 32 services - which all had uncertain futures after being included in a consultation, carried out in September and October, last year.

While the council's Route and Branch Group recommended cutting all five services in a bid to make savings of £70,400, TAG voted to retain three.

A BOP spokesman said: "After careful consideration of the results of the consultation and the impact on passengers, many of whom are elderly and rely on bus services, the group could only recommend changes to two services.

"Go South Coast agreed to reduce contract prices across a range of tendered services with no changes to routes or timetables to contribute £30,000 in savings.

"Overall, the total savings recommended totalled £55,400."

Getting rid of the A445 school bus route between Bearwood/Merley and Allenbourn School in Wimborne will save the council £24,600, reports showed. However, the decision will affect Bearwood pupils, and parents, who rely on the service.

A revised Morebus 4 service, with extensions between Wimborne Square and Allenbourn School, will replace the A445.

However, as stated in a report by the Route and Branch Group, this measure will "not help Bearwood pupils as it will only serve Merley and the route through Merley would result in a requirement for many of the pupils to walk further to their nearest bus stop."