CAMPAIGNERS are fighting to save a ‘vital’ bus service after scything budget cuts have put its future in doubt.

The number 12 bus service, which is operated by the Stagecoach Group, links Hatch Warren to the town centre, passing through Brighton Hill, Cranbourne, Black Dam and Eastrop along the way.

However, due to proposed cuts by Hampshire County Council (HCC) in a bid to save £140 million, subsidies previously given to run the service will no longer be available.

The concern from residents is the route will not be able to continue without a subsidy. Started by John McKay, the petition aims to reverse HCC’s decision and has received the backing of Basingstoke Liberal Democrat councillors Gavin James, Councillors Ron Hussey, Steve Day and Stuart Parker.

Leader of the Basingstoke Liberal Democrats, Cllr James said: “Removing the subsidy needed to keep many of our bus services running will result in important routes like the Number 12 being axed.

“Local residents rely on the number 12 bus to get them to town, to doctors’ surgeries, to work and to see friends and family.

“It’s an essential public service yet the Conservatives want to take it away from us.”

As previously reported in The Gazette the proposed budget cuts would see the Conservative-run county council remove funding for all four of the bus services that it currently subsidises in the borough, which along with the number 12, are the number 4 which runs from Chineham to the town centre via Buckskin, the number 14 from Tadley to the town centre and the Overton circular number 74 service.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council does provide a subsidy to nine bus services in the area, as well as the ‘Dial a Ride’ initiative, but this subsidy does not include the number 12 service.

A spokesman from Stagecoach said: “We operate the service on behalf of Hampshire County Council and we are aware that they have decided to make cuts to the bus subsidy budget in the future.”

Cllr James added: “They [HCC] don’t seem to realise the impact that their funding cuts have on the day-to-day lives of ordinary residents. We need to put that right.

“We encourage everyone to back the campaign to save the number 12 bus by signing the online petition.

“We’ll fight your corner and make sure that Hampshire County Council can see how much damage its budget cuts are causing in our town.

“We’re pushing to get the county council and the borough council to come together to solve the problem that they’ve created, for the benefit of everyone in Basingstoke.”

Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “We are committed to working with bus operators on improving bus travel throughout Hampshire and have, for some years, directed our available financial resources to support public transport on improvements that encourage more people to use it"

The petition can be seen at https://basingstokelibdems.org.uk/ en/petition/save-our-number- 12-bus.