Bus campaigners slammed a decision to reduce bus services as “undemocratic”, claiming it will leave elderly residents, young people and rural homeowners isolated.

A revised supported bus network, which East Sussex County Council said will safeguard 90 services while also saving the taxpayer a total of £1.88 million, was agreed by the authority’s Conservative cabinet yesterday.

Campaigners said that the decision flies in the face of popular opinion after a petition signed by almost 7,000 residents, 3,000 responses to a consultation and a decision earlier this month by councillors from all parties to reject the cuts.

Labour councillors will now seek to call-in the cabinet decision to examine if it was fair, if it disproportionately affects some residents and whether all possible options were considered.

The council said the changes will protect peak as well as relied-upon services.

The changes will come into effect from April and the council claims 91% of passengers will be unaffected and 96% will still have access to a six-day-a-week service.

But daily fares could increase by up to 30%, subject to discussions with bus operators.

Love Your Bus campaigner Chris Smith said that the changes would affect 2.7 million journeys a year through fare rises or service cuts, with residents in Lewes and Hastings most affected.

He said: “It is no wonder many people do not vote when they see that most of the people they elect have no power.

“This decision discredits local government and the members of the cabinet that took it.”

Sarah Owen, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Hastings and Rye who organised the petition, said: “We may have not got everything we wanted but, on the whole, this is a victory for us.

“The shame is that the Conservatives in East Sussex lacked the ability and backbone to negotiate harder with the bus companies and apply for extra funding for buses from government.”

Councillor Carl Maynard, lead member for transport and environment, said councillors listened to the consultation feedback and views of the full council.

He said: “We have the unenviable task of finding millions of pounds worth of savings and have to review every service to ensure our limited budget is being used in the most effective way.

“We felt the proposals brought to cabinet, amended in response to public feedback, minimised the impact of changes on the residents of East Sussex and offer best value for money for all taxpayers.”

Coun Maynard said he recognised the changes would impact “some residents in the county” and the authority would explore other funding opportunities and continue to call on bus operators to increase the number of commercial routes.