THE 503 bus service, which links Hambledon with Milford, Godalming and Guildford and which was to have been axed under proposals contained in a cost-saving bus review, has been saved.
The route, operated by Stagecoach but subsided by Surrey County Council, is the village’s only public transport service, and the parish council, supported by residents, mounted a strong defence against the proposal to scrap it
Surrey County Council’s Cabinet met on Tuesday (May 29th) to consider all the proposals contained in the bus review following a consultation exercise earlier this year, including the fate of the 503. It agreed that the service should not only be retained but returned to a three days a week service from its current two. This means that, from September 2nd, the service will once again run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, twice in each direction. Currently it operates on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The parish council is delighted that Surrey County Council listened to the case it put forward to keep the 503, which is a vital link, especially for the elderly. SCC acknowledged that scrapping the service would have left residents with no public service provision for shopping trips and to keep medical and other appointments.
It was also valued because it gave users independence. It was unacceptable to provide them with bus passes yet do away with the buses to use them on.
At the same meeting SCC agreed to look again at service reductions to the 70 and 71, which operate through Milford and Witley. It had proposed scrapping the 70 altogether, severing the link with Haslemere Hospital, leading to widespread concerns. This will now be re-examined.
Many other services in the Waverley area will see service reductions in order to save more than £720,000 in county council subsidies.
Original proposal 
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