BUS users in Trowbridge have expressed their concern about the future of the popular T1 service, after First West of England confirmed it will no longer operate the route.

Following a review of the company’s services in Wiltshire, First Group have announced that a number of loss-making routes will no longer be provided by the company after August 1.

The services being cut include the T1 bus, which is also known as the Trowbridge town service and serves the Hilperton, Paxcroft Mead and Upper and Lower Studley, while the daytime Melksham 234 service has also be axed.

Lesley West, 84, who lives in the College estate area of Trowbridge and is a regular on the T1, said: “It is a vital service for many elderly people and the only way many of them can get into town to do their shopping.

“Everyone is talking about it and there is a lot of concern as many of us would be completely stuck without it. We need there to be some sort of service to take its place.”

First Group said they have liaised closely with Wiltshire Council to ensure the provision of replacement services and that other operators will be providing a range of replacement services.

Andrew Sherrington, general manager for Bath, Wells & Weston at First West of England, said: “We have worked hard with Wiltshire Council to ensure that customers will still have access to a bus.

“These services are currently operated commercially and there are not enough people travelling on the services to cover the cost of running them. After August 1, First will no longer operate on services 30 (Frome Town Service), service T1 nor the daytime journeys on Service 234.

“We understand that service 30 will be taken over by Frome Minibuses and that Wiltshire Council have issued a tender for a replacement to the T1 in Trowbridge.

“234 is covered already by a more frequent service provided by Faresaver who will be adding a Saturday service to their operation. There will be no job losses as a result of these changes as the staff at First's Westbury outstation will be redeployed to other duties.”

Wiltshire Council has confirmed that an emergency tender has been issued for a replacement for the southern end of the T1, with the outcome of that process expected to be known by the end of June.

In the meantime, Hilperton, Paxcroft Mead, Castlemead and Leap Gate will be covered by Faresaver X34, which will run twice an hour on weekdays, but only hourly on Saturdays.

Victoria Road and St Thomas Road will be covered once per hour by X34 on Mondays to Fridays only, with the future of evening services depending on the cost of the T1 tender.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: “Following the announcement by First West of England, we are working hard to put in place a replacement service from August 3.”

Trowbridge and Wiltshire councillor Jeff Osborn said: “There are a lot of people that rely on that bus and it is a life line for them, if you take it away I don’t know what they will do.

“I’m pleased that Wiltshire Council has recognised the need and is looking to do something about it by putting the contract out to tender, because it is a crucial service for many of our residents.”

There was further disappointment for residents in Melksham this week, after it was announced that the Melksham Rail Link Bus, which is a free service run by Frome Minibuses, will cease from July 20.

The service, which was funded by Wiltshire Council through a Local Sustainable Transport Fund Grant, was run in the mornings and evenings to provide support to the TransWilts Rail Service.