VILLAGE bus services across the district could be set for cutbacks as a consultation into services continues.

Essex County Council has begun financial assessment into bus services it pays for throughout the county.

The council will not normally support a service where the cost per passenger journey is more than £5.

Service 344 from Black Notley to Chelmsford is facing the possibility of being converted to a Demand Responsive Transport system, a reduced timetable or even being completely withdrawn.

John Clarke, chairman of Black Notley Parish Council, said: “The local bus service operating through Black Notley is an essential public service to our small village population. Not everyone in the village has access to car transport and not everyone can afford taxis. These potential cuts seem aimed at older members of our village, families and younger people.

“Black Notley Parish Council has recently invested in new bus shelters which anecdotally seem to be in full and regular use.

“In addition, we have recently had county council cuts to school transport services and already local parents are finding it incredibly difficult to get their children to and from school. Further cuts to local transport services in our community are going to make a very bad situation worse.”

Services 341, 343 and 345 to hamlet Fuller Street from Braintree and Witham are under scrutiny, and could face conversion to a Demand Responsive Transport System.

Sarah McNamara, chairman of Terling and Fairstead Parish Council, said: “Terling and Fairstead Parish Council transport representatives have met with officers from Essex County Council passenger transport section to discuss all possible options to maintain our bus services which are so important to the members of our community who need public transport for such things such as shopping and doctor and dentist appointments.”

Some services in the review were last tendered in 2009 or 2010.

Eddie Johnson, councillor responsible for highways, said: “Taxpayers are currently paying for a number of lesser-used routes that cost ECC more than £5 for each passenger they carry. This is not sustainable in the long run and that is why we are looking at a whole host of options to support the future of bus services across Essex.”

Comment at http://bit.ly/2bjugBq by September 28.