THREE Thurrock Council-subsidised bus services providing a transport link to isolated areas in the borough could be withdrawn.

A report to the planning, transport, regeneration and overview scrutiny committee recommends a 12-week consultation on the 11, 265 and 374 services, which the council has supported with an annual £452,000 subsidy.

With costs expected to rise by another £50,000 this year the council wants to consult residents on changes to the service or even their withdrawal.

The services cover areas such as east and west Tilbury, Stanford-le-hope, Socketts heath, West Horndon, Linford and Bulphan, providing links to Thurrock Hospital, Basildon Hospital and Basildon station.

Purfleet, Aveley and South Ockendon are also covered by these services.

Residents in East Tilbury Village, Fobbing, Horndon on the Hill and Bulphan have no alternative public transport provision. East Tilbury and Linford have no other bus provision, but do have access to rail services.

However, some parts of East Tilbury are a significant distance from the railway station. These services provide direct links between communities which are not offered by commercial services. There are no alternative direct links between Purfleet and Aveley, or Aveley and South Ockendon.

The services are operated by the bus operator NIBS on a three-year contract, which concluded in March 2022, with an option to extend by up to a further two years. Due to uncertainty in the market, and the impacts of the pandemic, the council extended the contract by 12 months.

In 2019, the three services carried 89,040 passengers, equating to a subsidy of £5.10 per passenger.

In 2020/21 patronage was 30,758, and in 2021/22 it was 65,008 reflecting the impact of the pandemic. The majority of passengers were concessionary pass holders. Only 40 per cent of passengers in 2021/22 were fare-paying.

A report to councillors for the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny committee which meets on Tuesday (5 July) says: "It is an expectation of communities to be consulted where services are considered for significant alteration or potential for withdrawal, in particular where budgetary pressures are a key underlying factor."

It added: "Any withdrawal of subsidies for bus services will need to be justified and such a decision would need to be based on robust evidence and analysis."