A NEW bus service which will run through some rural parts of the borough are being drawn up after it was announced an existing route is to be cut.

Last week, West Berkshire Council voted to significantly cut the amount it subsidises buses, meaning the Number 90 service from Lambourn to Swindon will go.

This would leave places like Bishopstone without a route running through the village so an alternative plan is being set up.

Parish leaders are working with Swindon Borough Council’s transport department to start running a new community service from Bishopstone to Stratton via Liddington, Wanborough and the hospital before returning.

The talks have been led by Wanborough Parish Council Chairman Gary Sumner, who says the new service would mean the villages are no longer beholden to the decisions of other local authorities.

He said: “The problem is the likes of Bishopstone would be left without anything. They are not serviced by Thamesdown Transport and it is too small for a bus to turn around so it would have to go on to Oxfordshire which is not viable.

“This would mean many people like the elderly and students would have no way of getting into town. Wanborough is in a similar situation.

“We have come together and I was asked on behalf of the other villages to find a way forward.

“The important thing is the new service would go to the hospital, which is good for cost purposes. From there, services into town run every ten minutes so it is a busy hub.

“With the cuts to bus routes going on I am delighted the parishes will be responsible for running the service and we will not be dependent on other local authorities.

“I actually believe this will be more successful than the existing service because it takes in all the villages.”

Councillor Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport, said the route will also benefit those residents in Stratton hit by the loss of the direct service to the hospital.

He said: “Our community bus service idea will allow people to shop, visit the hospital and connect with the existing frequent bus services so they can get to college and work, and therefore carry enough passengers to keep a bus service in our rural areas.

“The route also has the added advantage of addressing the problem created for local residents of East Swindon when the Service 20 bus was cut because it was losing £200,000 a year.

“Mr Sumner is giving a strong voice for the villages and is working hard with the local parishes and we should know more detail in the next couple of weeks.

“I am very hopeful that with resident, parish and SBC support we can get this community bus service running in the next few months."