CIVIC chiefs have been accused of “giving up” in the battle to replace two bus services used by elderly and disabled people.

Totton’s popular T1 and T2 buses were axed earlier this year after Hampshire County Council said it was no longer able to help fund the routes.

The town council also pulled out, claiming it lacked the money to foot the £30,000-a-year cost on its own.

However, the Tory-controlled authority came under fire at a meeting attended by Liberal Democrat David Harrison - a member of both councils.

He said: “The link buses joined up all parts of the town, making facilities accessible to one and all. They were heavily used and highly valued by some of the most vulnerable members of the community, but as a result of Tory cuts we were left high and dry.”

Cllr Harrison spoke out after members were briefed about a recent meeting of the town council’s planning and transport committee.

A report said replacing the buses with taxis or minibuses would be too expensive and added that no alternative service would be funded “for the time being”.

Cllr Harrison said: “It seems to be saying that we’re giving up on bus services that this town has enjoyed for the best part of 20 years.

“We’re a large enough council to provide some sort of link service and should be prepared to fund it from our own resources.”

But members of the ruling Conservative group defended the council’s stance.

Cllr Len Harris cited budget cuts suffered by local authorities in recent years and added: “We can’t afford to do what we’d like to do.”

Cllr David Russell warned that everyone in the parish would face an increase in their council tax if the authority agreed to fund a replacement service.

He added: “The town has not been best served by its county councillors and we can’t pick up the slack.”

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Harrison said: “The services were jointly funded by Hampshire County Council and the town council but the county council decided to pull the funding, despite our objections.

“Tory town councillors promised to fund a replacement but announced - after the elections - that they hadn’t got anywhere.”

A town council spokesman said: “With other bus services now covering much of the area it seemed that public money could be put to better use elsewhere.

“Levels of demand will be monitored and the matter discussed at a later date if that proves necessary.”