A TOWN bus service is under threat of being axed. The No 17 town service could be the victim of cost-cutting after a subsidy payment to run the route was withdrawn. Members of North Herts District Council decided in setting this year s budget that they sh

A TOWN bus service is under threat of being axed.

The No 17 town service could be the victim of cost-cutting after a subsidy payment to run the route was withdrawn.

Members of North Herts District Council decided in setting this year's budget that they should scrap the £130,000 subsidy for buses across the district.

The subsidy was part of the cash that Herts County Council provided towards bus routes.

It is understood that as the district council has not made a contribution and the county council will not contribute to routes around North Herts.

The Royston No 17 town service, which runs from Burns Road to Queens Road and Mill Road and the town centre, was receiving a subsidy of £50,000.

Speaking to members of Royston Town Council's general purposes and highways committee, Royston's county councillor Doug Drake said the axing of the service would be "a deplorable loss".

He said the service may be withdrawn in September.

Cllr Drake continued: "This is a package of cuts and we are all going to suffer."

He said that he is raising the question over whether the No 17 can be retained on a reduced service.

Cllr Rod Kennedy said the decision showed "a lack of logic" in a time when people were being encouraged to use public transport.

Cllr Liz Beardwell described the threaten cut to the service as "absolutely disgraceful".