FEARS have been raised that rural bus services could bear the brunt of cuts in the number of routes subsidised by Cornwall Council.

The council has drawn up a system for ranking services to decide which ones can be cut, awarding points for each route based on criteria including the numbers using the service, the cost of subsidies and whether they link with other public transport services.

However, at a meeting of the economy and environment overview and scrutiny committee Lib Dem members said this methodology was unfair because it weighted the system in favour of urban areas and would penalise areas such as North Cornwall and the Lizard.

A trial used by the council to demonstrate how the system would work in practice did indicate rural routes would come out at the bottom of the pile.

Dirty

Looe councillor Edwina Hannaford said: "The whole exercise seems to be designed to be quick and dirty.

"Too much emphasis has been put on saving money and not enough on the social benefits of bus routes.

"The young and elderly especially rely on buses. The needs of rural communities just off bus routes will not be taken into account and it appears that communities of fewer than 500 people simply won't be counted.

"At the same time, no fewer than 3 of the 12 scores will relate to subsidy levels. The social divide between families in the countryside and those in urban areas is growing. I'm concerned the poorest in rural communities will just be bypassed."

Alex Folkes, deputy leader of the council's Lib Dem group, said: "For many, a bus is literally their only way into or out of their village – to work, to the shops or to see family and friends.

Axe

"We fear the Conservative-led administration is preparing to axe many rural routes."

Despite their objections, the committee agreed that the model for ranking bus services should be adopted to determine which services should continue to receive subsidies from April next year.