Council bosses are proposing to axe bus services across East Sussex to save about £500,000 over six years.

East Sussex County Council has produced a report of services it subsidises which it says are underused.

It is planning to cut a number and merge them with other services when a review is carried out next month.

The move has angered councillors and residents, who say elderly people are reliant on the services.

Council officers have recommended longer and cheaper contracts for bus companies to encourage them to bid.

A report highlights the possibility that £95,000 a year could be saved per year if the cheaper contracts are granted. The contracts could run for up to six years.

Consultation on the proposals has provoked angry feedback.

In the Seaford, Newhaven and Lewes areas, five different contracts for routes could be slimmed down and rolled into one.

The report said removing the 129 between Ringmer and Uckfield and replacing it with an improved 143 between Lewes and Ringmer would mean a net saving of £33,000.

It also highlights an improved 143 service for Hailsham and Eastbourne.

It said: “The current economic uncertainties should increase the attractiveness of these contracts to potential suppliers. The security of this work, along with the increased contract period, is expected to produce savings compared to existing prices.”

In response to the removal of the 129 service, the clerk of Ringmer Parish Council told East Sussex County Council: “Councillors strongly urge that the service is maintained. The hail-and-ride section is much appreciated and has made a significant difference to the lives of elderly people in the village, increasing mobility, independence and well-being.”

Another respondent said: “The service is a 'lifeline' to residents as it is the only reasonable way to reach Lewes, the nearest sizeable town and a place where many work.”

A final decision on the changes is expected to be taken by April 20.

The revised services would start in July when current contracts with bus companies run out.

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