RESIDENTS in East Tilbury and local councillors are leading a battle to challenge Thurrock Council's decision to withdraw the funding of local rural bus services.

There has been an overwhelming sense of anger in East Tilbury and surrounding villages which will be badly hit by the withdrawal of links to the rest of the borough community.

Residents have signed a petition and more than 40 formal objections and requests for the decision to be revisited though the 'call in' process have been submitted.

And Labour councillor Lee Watson has also joined the frontline of opposition.

She is her group's lead spokesperson on transport and has vowed to fight proposals to axe bus routes 11, 265 and 374. She has also lodged a 'call-in' – which means the issue has to be debated again by the council's planning, transport and regeneration committee who could direct the matter goes back to the cabinet who approved the axing of subsidies last week.

Cllr Watson said: "These bus routes are a real lifeline for many of our residents - they weave together our communities so that no town, village or resident is isolated.

Rural services are to be axed.

"The majority of people that use these services are those who can least afford to lose them. Folk on lower incomes, the elderly, students and those who don't have access to a car.

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"People rely on these buses for shopping, getting to school or college, visiting friends and family and - crucially - to get to hospital appointments.

"It is despicable that the Tories want to cut these vital services to help fill the financial black hole that their mismanagement of the council has created.

"It wasn't these residents that crashed the council and it is absolutely unfair that - on top of a 10 per cent council tax hike - they should lose services they rely on."

Residents in East Tilbury are incensed by the axing of the 374 service.

Among the many local people to get active and lobby the council demanding the decision be changed are Gemma Davis and Gary Taylor.

They say: "The 374 service is a lifeline to many elderly people that live in the village as well as those of us that do not have a car.

Those living in West Tilbury, Linford and other areas along the route also face effectively being cut off with the cessation of this service.

The decision to remove funding and effectively end the 374 service means that essentially the free bus passes that our local pensioners have gained are effectively invalid and worthless to them, with no bus service provided for them to be able to use them.

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"The bus passes are provided by the government as a way to ensure that older members of society are able to travel from their homes to places and enjoy visiting places outside of their home, yet this decision effectively means that if you live in east Tilbury village, West Tilbury, Bulphan or other places along the route you may as well just throw your concessionary bus pass in the bin when you reach an age to acquire it.

"It would appear Thurrock Council is happy to force social isolation upon these people with no alternative provision, leaving many unable even to get to their local shops.

"While it may well be that huge cost savings are needed and so the current route may not be financially viable, there were other options which would have represented a saving of £200,000 but would have allowed at least some service to the residents of these areas.

"Even under the measures that the council is now in, there is still a remit to provide essential services.

"This service is very much essential and should continue to be provided.

"Simply to cut this entirely will cause social isolation as well as physical and mental suffering and to allow this is simply the exact opposite of Thurrock Council showing due regard and care for its residents."

Thurrock Nub News understands that the council's legal and monitoring officer has recognised the legitimacy of the call-in and that a review will happen.

However, that is unlikely to happen until after the May local elections - and the bus service funding contracts run out at the end of this month.

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