Austerity still There seems to be no let-up. Wiltshire Council is currently in the midst of a range of reductions in service and increases in charges, demanded by central government.

Now, we have been given due notice that there will further cuts for at least the next two years. The ones that particularly concern me are the stated commitment to take £500,000 out of the budget for buses in 2016/17. Then the following financial year, a further £500,000 will disappear.

It doesn’t take much imagination to see who will suffer most when the buses stop running: the old, the infirm, the young and the vulnerable – all those without private vehicles. Many rural areas will be even more isolated, just when villages have fewer services and facilities.

To be fair, officers and senior councillors are aware of the problem and its social consequences. There is much talk of community buses and a greater role for various Link schemes.

The reaction to the threatened cessation of the much valued RUH Hopper scheme highlighted the limitations of these essentially voluntary services. They will never really replace scheduled regular bus operations. Experience indicates that there are never sufficient committed volunteers – to drive or organise – especially at 'awkward' times of the day.

It seems that when it comes to essential public transport, Wiltshire is about to enter a 'perfect storm'. However criticism should be levelled at central, rather than local government.

Jeff Osborn, Independent Wiltshire Councillor.