RESIDENTS fear they will not be able to get to hospital if Thurrock Council axes a “lifeline” bus service in East and West Tilbury.

The 374 route, which connects and west and east Tilbury with Orsett and Basildon Hospitals, is set to be cut.

The council claims it had to cut either the 11 route, which serves Aveley and Ockendon, or the 374 because of reduced Government funding.

An online petition to save the bus has already attracted more than 300 names.

Carol Rintoul, 70, of Stevens’ Crescent, Horndon-on-the-Hill, said: “I think it’s absolutely deplorable. I won’t now be able to get to the hospital and I shall have to get a taxi when I go for my regular appointments. I don’t know why I pay my council tax.”

Writing on the petition page, Megan- Hope Sullivan said: “I rely on this service to get to and from my bi-weekly hospital appointments, and, as I don’t drive, it’s my only way out of the village.”

East Tilbury councillor John Purkiss also criticised the decision. He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. People in East Tilbury need to go to either Basildon or Orsett Hospital and now they will be able to get to neither.”

Ella Vine, Labour’s candidate in the local election for Stanford le Hope this  May, understands the need for savings but not at the cost of the bus service.

She said: “This bus takes people to Basildon Hospital on one side, and Orsett Hospital on another. We could only imagine what effect a closure of this line would have on residents, especially the elderly and other vulnerable people. Additionally, many working age people use this route to get to work. If we cut people's only access to get to work, what will happen to their jobs, and for young people, to their job prospects?"

Oliver Gerrish, councillor responsible for transport, said: “We have come down to a choice. It’s not a choice the council wants to make, but sadly, we have to make tough choices when faced with cuts of this scale.”