RURAL residents in Thurrock are to lose bus services as the continued cutbacks by cash-strapped Thurrock Council continue.

Leading members of the ruling Conservative group last night (Wednesday, 15 March) unanimously agreed to save more than £400,000 a year by axing three services - the 11, 265 and 374 routes.

The 11 service, currently operated on a council subsidy by NIBS buses, runs six times a day each way between Basildon and Purfleet, knitting together Aveley, South Ockendon, North Stifford, Grays, Chadwell St Mary, Orsett, Horndon on the Hill and Fobbing en-route.

The 265, operated by Stephensons, runs three services a day on a route linking Grays, West Horndon. Bulphan and Stifford Clays, including stops at Orsett and Thurrock Community Hospitals.

And the 374, also run by NIBS, threads a way across the borough from Grays to Basildon, linking Little Thurrock, Chadwell St Mary, West Tilbury, East Tilbury, Linford, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, Fobbing and Vange - calling at Basildon Hospital.

It runs six days a week, with eight services in each direction on weekdays and four on Saturdays.

Effectively the decision means Bulphan, East Tilbury, East Tilbury Village, Linford, Horndon on the Hill, North Stifford, West Tilbury, and western parts of Aveley lose all bus provision.

Fobbing escapes a totalitarian cut as the council has arranged that the 100 service will divert some of its buses through the village.

The full report put before the committee last night can be read via this link.

The council does not pay for the full cost of delivering these services but provides a guaranteed sum to the operators.

Detailing the projected saving of £427,000 transport portfolio holder Cllr Ben Maney told the meeting: "This is the culmination of a 12 month story, We have looked at these three services to see if we could try and amalgamate them into smaller ones that are more cost effective but we can't.

"I know it will have implications for the public, but we have to balance the costs and the right decisions should be made. The recommendations in the report are right ones."

Conservative cabinet members voted unanimously to cut local bus services last night.

The council's deputy leader, Cllr Deb Arnold, who represents Corringham and Fobbing, expressed her gratitude that an effort had been made to save a limited service on her patch, even if consultation had initially missed her residents.

She said: "I understand there was a lot of work that went into this, but nowhere was Fobbing represented, they didn't come up to the top of Fobbing.

"I want to thank the portfolio holder for taking on board what Fobbing residents had to say and allowing them to join the survey

"At least they were heard.

"And thank you for the service that means there will be another loop to the village."

Cllr Barry Johnson, who represents Orsett, said: "I do know the consultation went to the Orsett villagers.

"I am fully aware the anger is going to cause but I just cannot justify the strain on the rest of the borough.

"I will continue to search for a solution – to find something that runs through the villages.

"On this occasion I think we did as much as we could."

The current contract with the companies expires at the end of March.