WORRIED residents in Thornbury have spoken out over the closure of a town bus service, described as a “lifeline” to many of the elderly residents.

The 615 bus, a circular route around Thornbury from Monday to Saturday currently run by Severnside Transport Ltd (STL), will come to an end on September 3, as the company goes into insolvency.

STL have confirmed the closure, despite the 615 being part of a South Gloucestershire Council consultation into bus services that closes on the same day.

With stops at many of the focal areas of Thornbury, including Tesco, the High Street, the health centre and a number of residential areas around the town, the bus is very much the “local service” and is used predominantly by older people in the town.

In an attempt to provide an alternative service, the 77 bus which is being taken over by Stagecoach Thornbury is being extended to serve all stops previously visited by the 615, as well as providing a direct route to Southmead Hospital.

But with the lengthier journey, many users have criticised the fact that the new bus will be visiting stops less frequently.

Speaking to the Gazette whilst travelling on the bus, Eunice Cox, 95, said she thought the prospect of stopping the bus was “disgusting”.

“Of all the buses to cancel, why would it be this one that is such a help to the elderly in the town.

“I am on my way to the shops right now, where would I be if I didn’t have this little bus to help me get there.”

Thornbury resident Michael Blake said he had been surprised when he was handed a questionnaire for the consultation, and despite the confirmed closure, said he hoped they would not do away with it altogether.

“If they are going to include this bus as part of the consultation then close it regardless, the survey is worthless and a complete waste of time.

“If it is an issue of cost, I am sure that many people would not mind if they introduced something like a £1 per day ticket.”

Sandra Wilde, whose 83-year-old father Mike Hennessy uses the bus three-to-four times a week, said the bus was his only access from home, and that end of the service would “leave him isolated” as he lives a mile from the town centre.

Rosemary Clews said how useful the bus was for so many people in the town.

“I can walk into Thornbury just fine, but coming back with a full shop is difficult.

“This kind of service is not just a convenience, but it provides an incredible level of independence to older people.

“The drivers are lovely and the service is very reliable, so if it were to close, it would be a backwards step for Thornbury.”

Even the bus driver, Adrian Skuse, who is being made redundant, said he thought South Gloucestershire Council would have considered giving the contract over to another provider.

“They know how well it is used, and how important it is to these people. To say they will extend the 77 service is ridiculous as getting a bus that size down some of the smaller roads would be almost impossible.”

Thornbury town councillor Maggie Tyrrell joined residents in condemning the decision, saying that even just the idea of cutting the service was “ridiculous”.

She said: “This is crazy, we have a growing population and instead of more services, vital ones are being cut.

“Suggesting that the 77 is replacing the 615 is not the same is it? People definitely do not see them as the same thing.”

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said they have been working with Stagecoach to agree the extended route for the 77 bus as an alternative to residents travelling around the town.

He added that notices have been put up on affected bus stops, as well as the buses themselves to let people know about the changes.

Timetables for the amended 77 service are available from the Thornbury tourist information centre and Thornbury Library.

Despite confirming the end of the service, and that they are going into insolvency, STL were unavailable to comment when approached by the Gazette.