THE “lifeline” bus service for Hambledon could be axed and services for Haslemere reduced as a result of proposals by Surrey County Council now out to public consultation to help plug a £50 million hole in its 2016 budget.

The new route service proposals are:–

• No. 18 Haslemere to Aldershot via Grayshott:

Timetable adjustments.

• No. 19 Haslemere to Aldershot via Beacon Hill:

Timetable adjustments and bus will no longer run through to Godalming and Guildford from Haslemere as No. 71

• No. 59 Hammer Hill to Grayswood via Haslemere:

Withdraw two return journeys between High Lane Estate and Grayswood and reduce service on Saturday to finish around 2pm.

• Haslemere to Guildford and Midhurst:

Timetable adjustments to integrate with Guildford to Milford services

• Haslemere to Guildford via Chiddingfold:

Timetable adjustments to integrate with Guildford to Milford services. At Shottermill no longer run through to Hindhead, Farnham and Aldershot as No. 19. Divert route Godalming to Peasmarsh to via Binscombe and Farncombe

• No, 503 Hambledon to Guildford via Godalming. Maintain Shalford to Godalming section but withdraw from Hambledon, Hydestile and Milford. Encourage local organisations to develop a dial-a-ride service instead

• No. 523 Milford Hospital to Guildford via Godalming. Withdraw service and encourage local organisations to develop a dial-a-ride replacement.

Hambledon parish councillor Stewart Payne said: “Having won a reprieve in 2012, once again the county council is making further spending cuts including the subsidy that keeps the 503 operating. This time the village faces a big battle to keep its bus, even though the need for the service remains as great as ever.

“Hambledon used to be served by a regular daily bus service. By 2011, the 503 had been reduced to a twice-weekly service and a Surrey County Council bus review proposed ending it altogether. A spirited defence of the 503 by Hambledon Parish Council and villagers resulted not only in its reprieve but in the increase of its frequency to three times a week.”

A county council spokesman said: “As a council, our aim is to ensure we provide services that offer maximum value for money to our residents.

“Increasing demand for essential services, coupled with reduced Government funding, means the council needs to review what it spends on all the services it provides.

“We have worked hard with bus operators to negotiate revised contracts that will give the council better value for money, but further savings still need to be made to ensure we can maintain the local bus services that are most important to residents.”

The deadline for responses is Monday, March 14. Final proposals following the consultation will be drawn up and considered by Surrey’s decision-making Cabinet on May 24. Any agreed changes would come into effect from early September 2016.

• To take part the bus consultation go to www. surreysays.co.uk or call the contact centre on 0300 200 1003 to request a print version, also available at libraries and on affected routes.