LOCAL transport campaigners have expressed concern that the bus services around Devizes could be hit by Kennet District Council's decision to withdraw £105,000 in funding from rural bus services.

Although Kennet is not obliged to contribute towards funding transport in the county, its decision to cut subsidies to scheduled services to try and cover cuts to its own grant from the Government has caught the county council on the hop.

The situation has been brought to light by Kennet Passengers, which represents the interest of public transport users in the district. It approached Fleur de Rhe Philipe, county council cabinet member with responsibility for transport matters, with its concerns over Kennet's withdrawal of bus subsidy.

Ms de Rhe Philipe wrote: "I appreciate that the district council is under no statutory obligation to fund bus services, and am glad of the support that Kennet has given over the years. However, Kennet District Council did not inform us of the decision to withdraw bus support until relatively recently.

"Given that we have not been able to fund the full extent of the anticipated increase in existing transport costs, we were not able to replace the Kennet District Council funding within the proposed budget.

"Kennet's decision, and the lack of notice, therefore leaves the county council in a very difficult position. We have to respond to the loss of income and inevitably the brunt of service reductions will be in Kennet."

Kennet Passengers' chairman Kate Freeman said: "We have witnessed a very poorly managed proposal. The £200,000 windfall tax from reduced council tax relief on second homes which, it has been argued, could have been spent on Kennet's bus services by Wiltshire County Council, should have been negotiated prior to any proposal to cut subsidies.

"On the other hand, the county council seems to have taken Kennet's unusually generous level of bus support for granted.

"The axe looks increasingly likely to fall on the Devizes town services which are in desperate need of expansion. We have worked closely with all parties to put in place a renewed service, which would reflect the growth in housing at Nursteed with accessible buses.

"This all now looks extremely vulnerable due to a lack of communication between councils. How sad."

A statement from Kennet District Council said: "The decision to review transport spending was made early in 2003, and given the council's difficult financial position, the county council was informed in July 2003, and subsequently, that it was likely that the bus subsidy budget would be cut."

Kennet still supports the Wigglybus, volunteer community buses and Link schemes throughout the district under its rural bus subsidy scheme.