A VITAL transport service for older and disabled people is safe from funding cuts after Swindon Council performed a U-turn on its unpopular proposals.

Plans to cut £50,000 from the budget for Dial A Ride have now been scrapped after public outcry forced councillors to think again.

Facing mounting anger from users of the service and opposition even within its own party Swindon Council’s ruling Tory group announced it was reversing the decision yesterday.

Bonnie Walsh, from Dial A Ride’s management committee, said: “Our passengers will be very relieved to hear this news. This is a really valuable service and it’s great news. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported us, including the Adver.”

The voluntary organisation, which provides transport for people who are unable to use public transport, faced a £50,000 cut from its £331,000 subsidy under Swindon Council budget proposals.

Although the Conservative administration claimed the reduction would come from efficiency savings that would not affect the delivery of the service, opposition politicians claimed it would cause a 35 per cent reduction in the number of journeys possible.

The U-turn came after a heated Conservative group meeting on Monday. Two backbench members of the Tory group were planning to put forward a motion at the next full council meeting condemning the plans.

Coun Mark Edwards, cabinet member for finance, said: “The proposed cut to Swindon Dial A Ride will not be part of the budget proposals. That is no longer an option. I hope this is what the people of Swindon want to hear.

“Conservative councillors have made it clear to me that while they want all voluntary groups funded by the council to deliver best value, they also wanted the whole issue of providing transport to the borough’s elderly residents be reviewed in more detail.”

He added that while Dial A Ride currently had 2,000 users there was a prospective market of 5,000 people across Swindon who could benefit from the service.

“We are committed to providing the best value services to residents, but that does not mean that any existing supplier or voluntary group is guaranteed support in the future,” he said.

“Those who work in partnership with the borough in delivering efficient services will be welcomed; those who cannot adjust may find other providers being invited instead.”