Chelmsford town bus services are to be routed on to main roads only in a shock change of strategy.

First Eastern National is rerouting a number of buses to estates starting Monday with the Writtle-Chelmsford-Moulsham 45c bus.

A row has erupted in Writtle because axing the 45c will mean elderly people from Oxney Mead bungalows and sheltered flats scheme will be robbed of a bus to drop them close to the surgery.

A petition is being raised by Mrs Joan Templeman, 62, and her 84-year-old mother, who both live in Oxney Mead.

Writtle borough councillor, Tony Sach, was meeting operations manager at EN, Derek Trotman on Thursday.

Cllr Sach said: "We only found out about this by accident. We are more furious about the lack of consultation than anything."

Essex County Council said it has been told by both Eastern National and Arriva, the other Essex operator, that ''corridor routes'' without deviations onto estates are viewed as the way to encourage bus use in future.

County council transport spokesman, Colin Cranley, said: "The bus firms argue that people will walk five minutes to a main road if assured that a bus will be along in ten minutes.

"We think withdrawal of any commercial services at a time when public transport is being promoted by government policy is wrong."

Another county spokesman said there would be time changes on routes 41 and 51 Galleywood to North Melbourne.

Writtle will in future only have a 45a route with five buses an hour on weekdays, four an hour on Saturday. The 54 and 54a to North Springfield will have its times revised and the 55 and 55a will be withdrawn.

The 56-56a to North Springfield will be cut to three buses an hour and the 57 and 57a will be withdrawn.

County Council highways chairman, Neil Spurgeon, says his budget has had to stretch to a further £400,000 on top of the £3m subsidies already given this year to keep some essential bus services running.

Although the subsidised fares cash goes to the county council, they only generate £1.4m, leaving a £2m deficit to be made up by taxpayers.

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