SEVERAL part-subsidised bus routes that serve Welwyn Hatfield and Potters Bar are to face cutbacks to their operating hours.

On February 16 we reported how the 607 circular route, which serves Hatfield Garden Village, was to be axed after 7.35pm on weekdays.

Now it has emerged a raft of other bus services will be reduced, or in some cases, axed.

One affected route, the 404/405 service between WGC and South Hatfield, will have the evening service withdrawn entirely, from the original 11pm last bus, after the changes, which come into effect on March 27.

The route will join more than 20 others to have cost-cutting alterations to their timetables.

Dawn Barrett, of Millwards, Hatfield, relies on the 404/405 service to get home from her job at the QE2 Hospital.

The cleaning supervisor, 53, told the WHT: “It’s just ridiculous, I’m 53-years-old and I might have to ride a bike home.

“I don’t know how they can get away with it.”

She also complained the bus service only runs in university and school term-time.

She said: “This town is just student-orientated – I was born here and have lived here for 53 years.”

She added; “I love my job, it’s a public service job, but this is the price I have to pay for it.

“It [her job] is a 24-hour service.”

Cllr Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, said: “In these tough financial times, at Hertfordshire County Council we’re doing all we can to protect the vast majority of our bus network.

“As we announced after the highways and transport panel last November, following a decrease in funding there are going to be some service reductions, but we have concentrated these on those services that are not used verymuch or, where possible, can be covered by other buses.”

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