Campaign group, Rail & Bus for Herefordshire, is calling on all bus passengers, whether regular or occasional users, to take part in the consultation about the future of buses in the county.

The group wants people to send a clear message to the Council that there should be no cuts, neither to the bus network nor to service levels.

Herefordshire Council has just rolled out a consultation review about the future of buses. However, the campaign group says that the survey leads people into saying that they’ll accept cuts and asks them to choose where these should be, for example, all market day buses.

Professor Les Lumsdon, coordinator of the campaign, says: “Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet took a decision in January 2016 (the mid-term finance strategy) to reduce revenue support for public transport between now and 2020. It has already made a clear decision as to the outcome and now they are asking people where the cuts should be made and when. Is that really consultation?”

The Council is proposing to save £730,000, the group believes the social impacts of these cuts will be high. Professor Lumsdon added: “Our hope is that the Herefordshire Council Cabinet will take a fresh look at this following the review because buses are so vital for journeys to school, work and the shops.”