THE Hopper bus service will be axed after councillors voted against looking into possible financial alternatives today.

At a meeting of the Scrutiny Management Committee at County Hall in Trowbridge this morning, the motion was voted down by eight against six not to refer the decision back to Cabinet, which confirmed the cuts last week.

The service currently provides transport to and from the Royal United Hospital in Bath, carrying more than 1,500 people a year.

Councillor Jeff Osborn called in the decision, which is only done in exceptional circumstances, and was supported by ten other councillors after they believed the process was “disproportionate on the elderly”.

“People who will be affected by this are the elderly and infirm,” said Cllr Osborn.

“Both the NHS/Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Wiltshire Council would lose more money as people’s conditions deteriorated because they can’t attend outpatient appointments.

“There seems to be a game of pass the buck between the CCG and Wiltshire Council.”

The meeting heard how plans to cut the Hopper bus service had been made in 2014 and that the service was only funded until April this year because of the Better Care Fund.

It had been proposed that funding from local town councils could contribute towards the cost of the Hopper, which costs around £150,000 every year.

Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Philip Whitehead, said: “I would be more than happy at any time to have people approach me and talk about the funding issues but this debate is about the decision we made.

“I wouldn’t argue it affects the elderly and infirm.

“It doesn’t matter what services I touch it will affect the elderly and infirm because those are the people that will use bus services in Wiltshire.”

Baroness Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, added: “This is not an easy decision, no decisions we make regarding the budget are easy decisions but we have to look at the best option across the county.

“I think it’s sad but we’ve had a long discussion in Cabinet.”

Cllr Jeff and Helen Osborn as well as Cllr Terry Chivers gathered nearly 5,000 signatures from people opposed to the cuts when they were announced.