A RESCUE operation for an outgoing bus service is being hatched by a parish council keen to keep a direct link to the town’s hospital.

John Foley, chairman of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, who forged a career in the bus industry before he retired, has received scores of messages about the issue.

On Monday, the Adver reported on Thamesdown Transport’s plans to terminate the number 20 service, which serves Stratton and Covingham on its way to Great Western Hospital (GWH).

Thamesdown said too few people were using the service to make it commercially viable for them. But a group of pensioners in Stratton have called for the service to stay alive or they risk being cut off from Swindon.

Mr Foley, who worked for 20 years as depot manager with Swindon and District Bus Company, will meet with Gordon Frost, Thamesdown’s operations manager, this morning to discuss possible plans.

A subsidised service running along the same route would be the most welcome solution for Mr Foley and Stratton residents, but finances at both parish and Swindon Council level would need to be assessed.

“We have got to be supported either by the Government or the local authority,” said Mr Foley.

“We will certainly need help from the borough, though I don’t know how much it will cost until I speak to Gordon Frost. We will have to make up the shortfall.”

Mr Foley said Swindon Council would be putting the route out to tender in the hope it could be kept runningand organisation can keep a transport service running, with the parish council likely to bid.

“We are looking at all the angles,” he said. “We would like to hear back from the community. They should get in touch through the parish office on 01793 823 761.

“The people in Upper Stratton and Lower Stratton are depending on it to go to hospital."

“There are occasions where I have to use it when I have to go to the hospital because I can’t drive and it’s very expensive for taxis.”

One of those residents who initially shone the spotlight on Thamesdown’s plans has reacted warmly to the prospect of a subsidised route.

Elizabeth Smart, 76, of Wildern Square, wants to keep the route alive and Stratton’s direct link to GWH. She believes the passenger base is there to support a bus every 90 minutes on the route.

She said: “That sounds good. Anything as long as we have got a bus,” she said, when told about Mr Foley’s idea.

“It can’t all be about people getting to the hospital though. You have to remember people need this bus to get to work too.

“Hopefully it happens, but like I said, this bus is needed and It picks up a hell of a lot of people through Gorse Hill as well as Stratton.”