THE prospect of losing yet more bus services due to further cuts in subsidy from Hampshire County Council is very worrying, especially for the young and elderly.

Young people don’t seem to be a priority for the council or Government. If there is one thing that holds them back it is the cost of using public transport, or having no public transport at all.

I feel ashamed to hear of young people in my division who lose a job because the late night bus has been discontinued. Things look to be getting bleaker for them.

Elderly people very often rely on buses because they are unable to drive. What a wonderful thing the bus pass is? However, not so great when the services are withdrawn because they can’t operate without subsidy. Some will say, well that’s market forces for you... why should bus companies rely on public money to keep going?

This is little comfort for elderly people who will be left high and dry without any service that would take them to the shops, the library or the local medical centre.

In Totton, we have already lost a direct bus service to Southampton General Hospital. We are a population of some 33,000 people and yet we can’t have a service to our nearest hospital just four miles away? It seems utter madness to me.

Health experts confirm that elderly people who become isolated and lonely deteriorate much more rapidly and end up costing the NHS and social services far more than would be the case if they led healthy, fulfilling lives. It’s why I place so much importance on things like supporting the local luncheon clubs and supporting the local link bus services that our more vulnerable residents rely upon on.

Totton & Eling Town Council are trying to respond positively to the new threats to services, by working with other agencies to see what might be done. There is a good chance of purchasing minibuses and running a service that suits our needs in a financially sustainable way.

Perhaps part of the answer is getting the politicians to think more long term. Prevention is so much better than cure.

Savings made on bus service subsidy today will lead to increased costs on health and social services further down the line.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR DAVID HARRISON, New Forest Liberal Democrats.