SOME bus services in and around Tavistock could be axed under new proposals by Devon County Council.

In the latest swathe of earmarked cuts to offset their huge deficit in funding, the county is launching a consultation on proposals to cut £1.7 million from its annual public transport budget over the next two financial years.

Councillors agreed this month to reduce expenditure on bus services requiring council funding to operate.

Among the proposals are the complete withdrawal of the Sunday service 11/75 between Okehampton and Tavistock and of the number 82 weekend summer service between Postbridge to Tavistock, as well as the withdrawal of the X85 service between Launceston to Tavistock on Saturdays.

Early and late weekday services from Bere Alston-Tavistock (87) will also be affected and the withdrawal of late evening services on the Tavistock to Plymouth route (86).

One disgruntled passenger, Mike Widger, told the Times: 'Specifically it means that the last bus from Plymouth to Tavistock will be at 8.45pm instead of the current 11.45pm service on Monday to Saturday and 5.45pm on Sundays instead of 10.55pm.

Mr Widger, who lives in Abbotsfield Crescent, Tavistock, said: 'It is a further blow to the connectivity of Tavistock as the evening services were useful connecting with "up-country" trains arriving at Plymouth. It is also very unfair on young and senior folk who do not have their own transport.'

Mr Widger said the summer Dartmoor Sunday Rover services were also under threat, specifically the Gunnislake Station/ Tavistock/Okehampton Station service.

'This will undermine the Okehampton to Exeter rail service — itself reduced to four services each way. So much for green tourism,' he said.

At Tavistock Bus Station a regular use of the Bere Alston to Tavistock 87 service said the service was 'a lifeline' to the village. The council propose to withdrawal the 6.40am Tavistock-Bere Alston and 6.54pm Bere Alston-Tavistock journeys to save £1,400.

Peter Budge, a pensioner, travels into town twice a week. He said: 'The cuts won't affect me but there are a lot of people in Bere Alston who depend on the bus to travel into Tavistock and then onto Plymouth for work or schools in the morning. Not everyone uses the train. The bus service is essential for Bere Alston, a real lifeline.'

Debo Sellis, the Devon county councillor for Tavistock, said the Tavistock to Plymouth service equated to a subsidy per passenger trip of £1.95, set against a maximum subsidy threshold agreed by the council's cabinet for evening services of £1 per passenger trip.

While sympathising with Mr Widger's concerns Mrs Sellis said that it was, unfortunately, part of the 'Tough Choices' cuts on public services that the council was being forced to make — £50-million this year, plus £34 million next year.

She said: 'What is very painful is the fact that there are people who do rely on public transport and they are exactly the people who suffer when routes are cancelled.

'Devon County Council has recognised this and is increasing grants to local voluntary transport groups who provide a significant benefit to our community.

'I have supported the Tavistock Area Support Services TASS and the Tavistock Community Bus with funds from my locality budget too as I firmly believe in supporting the good that they do, plus I know that the rurality of our area holds significant deprivation.

'I am really sorry that I can't magic the funds required to keep everybody happy.'

She urged West Devon residents to voice their responses directly through the consultation process: https://new.devon.gov.uk/publictransportbudget">https://new.devon.gov.uk/publictransportbudget

The county council said it was the first time in four years that the authority had proposed cutting bus services to meet a reduced budget, but the reductions were needed as part of the county's efforts to save £110 million by 2017 due to its reduced settlement from central Government.

The council has set up a three-year fund of £100,000 per year to help community transport providers broaden their services to include more general access for local communities.