PROTESTERS against Devon County County plans to cut a little-used financially-supported bus service to and from the village of Cheriton Fitzpaine gave their local councillor a rough ride on Tuesday night.

County and District Councillor Michael Lee attended a public meeting called by Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Council to hear the comments of local residents who were angry that the village would be losing some services due to DCC budget cuts.

As part of plans to save £1.3 million, Devon County Council has withdrawn subsidies to many services which are not commercially viable.

Service 347, which currently runs between Crediton and Tiverton via Cheriton Fitzpaine and Shobrooke, will no longer go as far as Tiverton, and early and late services will be withdrawn.

Cheriton Fitzpaine will continue to be linked to Tiverton by service 870 on Tuesdays, but the well-used Fare Car F9 taxi service which currently runs five times a week, six days a week, will run on Fridays only.

At the meeting at Cheriton Fitzpaine Methodist Church, Cllr Lee was told how the cuts would affect those who use them and what it would mean for the village.

Charlotte Gowing (17), feared she would lose her part-time job as a lifeguard at the Exe Valley Leisure Centre, Tiverton, if the cuts, as proposed to take effect from April 11, 2011, are passed by Devon County Council.

Charlotte works at the leisure centre after studies at Queen Elizabeth's Community College and said she fitted other shifts in to coincide with the bus timetable.

It was pointed out that the 347 bus was the only wheelchair accessible vehicle serving the village and that losing part of the service would have a devastating effect on the elderly, the infirm and those unable to afford a car.

There were concerns about the lack of consultation with the public, the increasing cost of fuel, some describing the service as a "lifeline".

Others said the cuts would "isolate" rural communities and another comment was that

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the money-saving process DCC was taking was "flawed".

Some proposed that the county council look again where the axe on cuts was to fall.

Cllr Lee said he had taken on board the comments but emphasised that the routes which were proposed to be cut were "little-used".

He was presented with a petition, signed by more than 230 local residents, asking that the County Council continues to subsidise the 347 service.

Some residents asked him to vote against Devon County Council's money-saving budget, which was due to be discussed at the council meeting, yesterday, Thursday, February 17. Alternatively, he was asked to abstain.

He said he would be voting for the acceptance of the budget, which included £55 million worth of savings for the county, including many aspects, as well as travel subsidy cuts.

In addition to the cuts at Cheriton Fitzpaine, there are cuts to the 607 service which currently travels nine loops of Crediton each day.

This will be cut to four a day under the proposals, the service using one bus instead of two.

The Sunday and Bank Holiday service (315), which travels from Exeter to Barnstaple via Crediton, Bow, North Tawton and Winkleigh will be withdrawn.

Gill Webber, from Crediton, who is in her 70's, said that the cut to the town service would mean many would be unable to get to doctor's appointments, adding that the cut would "seriously affect the elderly".

June Bolt, in her 60s and also from Crediton, said "people depended on the bus service in Crediton" and feared she would not be able to afford to pay for a taxi to and from her home into town if the cuts went ahead.

Alan Quick