Hampshire buses are "lifeline" to communities says Winchester MP as more services face cuts
The Winchester MP's riding the final bus service to arrive into the protest later today
The Winchester MP says buses are a "lifeline" to communities as over 100 campaigners are expected to protest against the service cuts today.
Hundreds of people are expected to gather to challenge cuts to community bus services operated by Stagecoach.
Danny Chambers MP's planning to catch the final service of the 61 bus from Winchester Bus Station at 16:40, arriving into the protest in Colden Common at 17:12.
He said: "One of the issues that people are really concerned about at the moment is Hampshire County Council withdrawing the funding for the bus services.
"In places like Colden Common, rural villages, the bus is an absolute lifeline.
"Especially for people who don't drive, which is often elderly people.
"People rely on that service to get to hospital appointments, and it allows them to have their independence.
"We've had hundreds of people contact us to raise the issue of the buses being cut off, and they're really, really worried about it.
"So we're going to Colden Common on the last bus to sort of highlight to Hampshire County Council just how much people value this bus and how cut off their community will be if it gets stopped."
He told us the bus can be for socialising, too.
Mr Chambers added: "I was speaking to a couple of elderly people who came to see me together.
"These two women said they met each other because they used to get the same bus every week, and now they're friends and they go for coffee together.
"They said part of their social life is getting the bus because it's the same people on the bus every day or every week, and they've got to know each other.
"That's the sort of thing that you can't really measure financially, but it is hugely important to those individuals."
He's challenging the Hampshire County Council and Stagecoach on the loss of the 61 service into Eastleigh, and changes to the route for the 69 service.
Mr Chambers said: "It's absolute madness for the Conservative Council and Stagecoach to be cutting this service.
"The 61 bus was projected to be one of the highest performing and profitable buses over the next five years.
"The Council and Stagecoach need to get their heads together and sort this mess out.
"Vulnerable people in rural communities are going to be cut off for no good reason.
"It's completely unacceptable."
Mr Chambers is also expected to be joined by local campaigners and multiple political parties.
Jonathan Williams, County Councillor for Colden Common, said: "The Conservative-run Hampshire County Council is already spending money subsidizing commercially successful services, while cutting other services altogether.
"The rural communities and small towns around Winchester are being hit the hardest, and the County Council must re-prioritise retaining these services."
Stagecoach told us in a statement about the 69 service.
They said: " The changes are part of Hampshire County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
"The route will now be faster via the M3 and Bar End Road, with buses every 30 minutes, earlier weekday journeys, an hourly Sunday service, and timings to support Peter Symonds College.
"These updates aim to improve efficiency and better meet local travel needs."
We have reached out to Hampshire County Council for comment.