TRANSPORT bosses are facing a tidal wave of opposition from angry bus passengers who will be hit by radical timetable changes in Droitwich Spa.

Public outcry has followed a decision by the First bus company to slash services in the Spa from November.

We revealed the changes last week and now councils, organisations and residents are campaigning to save buses, particularly the numbers 19 and 20 which serve people in Droitwich south and Chawson. Both face the axe. First claims some services are underused and that it has problems recruiting drivers.

Town MP Peter Luff said his phone line has been red hot with concerned callers. He claims that this is the biggest Droitwich issue he has been asked to tackle during his five years in office.

"If a reasonable compromise cannot be found I shall be asking Parliamentary questions about the bus company's right to dramatically reduce services," added the local MP.

Dorothy Hingley, aged 76, fears the loss of the number 19 will leave her, and other pensioners, housebound and isolated. For the past 16 years, the Cherry Close householder has travelled into the town centre six days each week to shop and use local amenities.

She is calling on businesses, doctors, the library, church leaders and supermarkets to lobby the bus company and told the Advertiser: "This will hit everyone from traders to passengers. I understand the bus operators cannot run empty buses but surely they could reconsider the frequency of buses?"

Route changes to the number 20 will cut off many Chawson residents and a new £2,000 bus stop, erected by Droitwich Spa Town Council, in Ombersley Way, could become redundant.

Town councillors discussed the issue at Monday night's full council meeting.

Council leader, councillor Pam Davey (Con - Droit South) said: "Everybody is pulling together to impress the fact that the total removal of the number 19 and 20 is a shattering blow and fundamentally affects the quality of life for many residents."

She said if services cannot be preserved, the council must investigate how this affects people paying quarterly fees to use buses.

Cllr Davey represents Droitwich at Worcester County Council, which is responsible for ensuring communities have good access to public transport.

She added: "I have met with county officers and they are actively looking to absorb the 19 service into their subsidised Tagwell Heights service. The authority currently spends £2.5m on subsidised bus services, so it's in a good position to negotiate with First."

A spokesman for the First bus company was unavailable for comment.

The end of the line: People queueing for a Spa bus, where services are under threat. Ref:44799