Bus lifelines are under threat because they are too expensive to run.

RDH Services has decided to withdraw its bus services in Seaford, Newhaven and Lewes from November 22 because they have been losing money since it took them over.

The company took on the Seaford and Newhaven services 26, 120 and 145 in January last year following the closure of Connex buses in East Sussex.

RDH has also run the 27A town service in Lewes since April, 2001, when Stagecoach withdrew because it was unprofitable.

In addition they took over the loss-making 123 bus to Lewes after Metrobus closed its Lewes bus depot in July.

Renown Coaches has also given East Sussex County Council its notice to terminate the contract for the Local Rider 126 service that runs between Seaford, Alfriston, Polegate, the District General Hospital and Eastbourne.

Tom Hawthorne, who runs RDH with his brother-in-law Derek Hunnisett, said: "Running a bus service is an expensive operation and despite a lot of effort from our drivers and loyalty from those regular passengers that use the services, we have made a significant financial loss on these operations."

He said the low floor, easy-access buses had proved their downfall because they were too expensive for the amount of passengers they attracted.

He said: "We have carried these losses from the beginning and with our own costs increasing there was no light at the end of the tunnel."

A council spokesman said: "It's no secret most services in the county now need some sort of financial support to keep them going.

"Companies are finding it more and more difficult to recruit drivers and insurance premiums are getting higher.

"The new buses are extremely expensive and despite these routes being well used, as well as various initiatives to boost the services, they are not making profits.

"Only in busier places such as Brighton and Hove are bus services thriving."

He said more funding was required for these routes, which at the moment were funded by the county council.

Tony Reid, lead Cabinet member for transport and the environment, said: "The continuation of these routes is a high priority, not least due to the large numbers of passengers who travel on them every week.

"These types of services are extremely expensive to provide and it is difficult to sustain them without increasing public funding."

The services will now go out to competitive tender and the decision will be made at the end of October.

RDH said it hoped to win the tender and continue to provide the services on behalf of the council.

The spokesman said: "We will continue to provide these services as fully as we can until we decide who will take over the contract tendered."

Friday October 03, 2003