IT IS sometimes easy to think of towns and villages as satellite hubs to the cities they surround, so they are linked to that central location in every way.

But as the disappointing cancellation of the 615 bus in Thornbury goes to show, this is not quite the case and the services each individual settlement can boast to personally possess is invariably a vital string to their bow.

Therefore it is perplexing to try to understand why a service which provides a “lifeline” to many in the community would be scrapped altogether.

The confusion continues when you consider the fact that the 615 is featured in a consultation about bus usage. Why on earth is it in there if it is being cancelled regardless?

Is it because it is used predominantly by pensioners with bus passes, thus bringing in less revenue? It is possible, but then should not be a surprise.

What is, however, not a secret, nor a surprise, is how the people of Thornbury feel about having this beloved service taken away - with words such as “disgusting” and “upsetting” being used freely by many.