BUS bosses are being urged this week to rethink planned service cuts between Burgh Castle and Great Yarmouth.The frequency of buses on the route will be halved and a direct link with Gorleston town centre ended next month.

BUS bosses are being urged this week to rethink planned service cuts between Burgh Castle and Great Yarmouth.

The frequency of buses on the route will be halved and a direct link with Gorleston town centre ended next month.

Existing Sunday and evening services in Burgh Castle are also being axed by operator First Eastern Counties.

The controversial timetable and route changes have resulted in protests from local residents and councillors.

From April 26 the twice hourly 7 service will run direct from Belton to Gorleston by-passing Burgh Castle and north Bradwell.

Instead a new number 5 service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday between the villages and Great Yarmouth.

Burgh Castle resident Maureen Grey regularly travels by bus to Gorleston. “Lots of people use the service to Gorleston to go shopping or to go to the doctors, dentists and hospital.

“Not everyone is able to use a car and having to change buses to get to Gorleston will be very inconvenient for elderly and disabled people who have to rely on public transport,”she said.

First claim not enough passengers are using the bus in Burgh Castle to maintain the current service.

Evening and Sunday buses have been withdrawn on with the agreement of Norfolk County Council which subsidises the service.

A First Eastern Counties spokesman said: “Due to the very low levels of patronage from Burgh Castle, and in order to provide a more direct service from Belton - we will be re-routing Service 7 directly between Belton and Gorleston to reflect passenger demand.

“We have to make the best decisions we can to maximise how these services are deployed across our operating area.”

Passengers travelling from Burgh Castle to Gorleston will need to change buses at Burgh Road, Bradwell to Gorleston High Street or Alpha Road, Gorleston to James Paget University Hospital.”

Breydon division county councillor Trevor Wainwright said: “These decisions were taken without any consultation with council members, the parish councils or residents.

“Burgh Castle residents will lose their evening and Sunday service altogether from the end of April. We are being encouraged to use public transport more, but when bus companies cut services without any consultation, what hope is there?”