SENIOR councillors have approved scrapping a subsidised taxi service to help the low-paid access work or training.

Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet yesterday agreed the end of the Burnley Employment Shuttle despite an objection from the borough's MP.

It decided too few people used the ‘Dial-a-Ride’ taxi service started in March 2010 to justify the £27,982 annual cost.

Since March 2010, the shuttle has offered subsidised travel for low-paid workers or jobseekers without cars or access to public transport for £2 a trip.

Burnley Labour MP Julie Cooper last week condemned the proposal as ‘short-sighted’ urging the county council to advertise the shuttle to boost passenger numbers instead.

The county council does not operate an employment shuttle in any of its other 11 boroughs but Blackburn with Darwen Council has a similar subsidised service.

A three-month notice period will allow the shuttle's users time to make alternative arrangements.

The officer report to Cabinet revealed the number of users had dropped from 30 to nine, meaning the subsidy for each journey was £7.71.

It added that the maximum recommended subsidy for this kind of service is £5 a trip.