WILTSHIRE Council is preparing to cut the evening service between Marlborough and Swindon and reduce the Connect2Wiltshire Pewsey to Devizes service as it warns more reductions are likely.

The council decided to cut £500,000 from some services found to be less well used.

A spokesman said today: "The evening service between Marlborough and Swindon, service 70A/72A, will no longer operate after its final run on 14 August.

"Bus services in the Great Bedwyn area will operate a reduced frequency and the Connect2Wiltshire Pewsey to Devizes service, which has a short consultation available at https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=149665181071, will also be reduced in frequency.

"Following more than 11,000 responses to a consultation last year, people asked the council to concentrate funding on the vital journeys which people depend on – such as journeys to work and rural services. Wiltshire Council’s cabinet decided to retain around 97 percent of bus passenger journeys, but savings of £500k were required from some less well used services."

Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for transport said: “We had a huge response to the consultation last year. It really showed how much people value their local buses, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to take part.

“The information we had really has helped us, and we continue to buck the national trend by safeguarding the services people really need.”

Half of the bus mileage in the county is subsidised by £4.5 million per year from Wiltshire Council as it is not otherwise commercially viable. The rest of the bus services in Wiltshire are operated on a commercial basis by various operators.

The council’s current policy of subsidising passenger journeys by up to £3.50 on most services will continue.