ATTEMPTS to save the Hopper bus service will continue even if a meeting today doesn’t go in its favour, according to Councillor Jeff Osborn.

The bus service, which transports patients to the Royal United Hospital in Bath, was confirmed as being discontinued due to a lack of funding last month by Wiltshire Council.

But campaigners have called in the decision, and a scrutiny committee meeting will be held meet at 10.30am today at County Hall in Trowbridge.

“I’m not holding out too much hope as I’m sure the Conservatives will put a whip on it, but I’m using every option I can to keep it going,” said Cllr Osborn.

“The problem is they can’t query the decision, only the process.

“I was told by Philip Whitehead that if I could find £50,000 we might stand a chance of saving it, and I managed to get £20,000 from public benefactors.

“We wanted the rest to come from town councils but the problem is they have all set their budgets.

“I was running this back in my head and wondered if I should have done this earlier but I didn’t want to give up to County Hall.

“I’ve had people ringing me up saying what are they going to do without it and even crying down the phone.

“It’s something that really affects the elderly who, without it, their condition will deteriorate and it will end up costing the NHS more money.

“I’m in for the long haul and not going to give up.”