DISMAY has been expressed over the reduction by Stagecoach South of yet another Alton bus service.

The decision to reduce the number of buses running on the 613 route will leave students living in some of the outlying villages unable to use the bus to access Alton College in time for the new 10am start.

Part of the number 13 Liphook to Basingstoke service, the 613 only runs on school days, and links the villages of Medstead, Bentworth, Lasham and Herriard with Amery Hill School and Alton College.

While the Amery Hill run is set to remain, the service that aims to get students to Alton College to comply with its new start time is to be axed.

Stagecoach South marketing manager Stacey Churton said: “There are currently two journeys each way to and from Alton on schooldays only, one for Amery Hill School and one for Alton College. The Amery Hill journeys will continue, the Alton College journeys will cease.

“We understand the inconvenience this will cause, however the journeys which are coming off carry so few customers (less than 10 students) that we are unable to continue running these as a commercial service.”

Alton College vice-principal Jon Myers said: “Having worked closely with Stagecoach in planning for our new timetable, it is really disappointing that the later 613 service has been withdrawn after just one year, leaving our students with no transport provision.

“However we are arranging alternative methods to make sure that students will still be able to get here for a 10am start and get transport home at the end of the day - and so can still benefit from our new college day.”

Alton Town Council transport spokesman Graham Titterington said: “Every cut in our sparse bus service causes hardship for passengers and this one is to be regretted. I am pleased to hear that the college is able to step in to mitigate the hardship to students in this case.

“Students have enough to worry about without concerns about whether they can get to classes and get home again safely and without undue delay.”

And he continued: “This is another illustration of the problem of public transport not being recognised as a vital service, as we see with every cut. Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring that residents are adequately served lies with the county council, but with impossible budget demands coming down from the government something has to give.”

Deborah Brooks Jackson, ward councillor for Four Marks and Medstead, is urging Stagecoach to reconsider.

She said: “Axing of this vital transport link is extremely shortsighted and significantly affects the residents of Medstead and other surrounding villages. This decision not only impacts families without transport but working parents as well. I hope that Stagecoach recognises this, reverses its decision and reinstates the 613 bus service.”