SABDEN residents are angry a crunch meeting failed to find a way to restore their axed village bus service.

They had hoped Lancashire County Council transport boss, County Cllr John Fillis, would offer enough cash to start up an interim replacement while a permanent solution was found.

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Instead the county council offered to pay pay half the cost of a stopgap service if Ribble Valley Council or Sabden Parish Council would make up the difference of tens of thousands of pounds for six months.

Cllr Fillis said he would look into buying a bus for a ‘village service’ for Sabden going between Whalley and Read for connecting buses in the longer term.

Any operator would still have to pay for drivers, insurance and maintenance though.

The service was scrapped in May when the county removed the subsidy it paid for weekend and evening services and operator Transdev said it was no longer viable – even on weekdays.

Ribble Valley Council leader Stuart Hirst, who attended the meeting said: “This is very disappointing.

“We have no money to pay for this.”

Paul McKenna, the leader of the ‘Save our Service Sabden Action Group’, said: “This is extremely disappointing.

“Sadben Parish Council does not have this sort of money.

“We had hoped for a proper solution yesterday but we are still in the dark.

“Other places in Lancashire get subsidised bus services, why not Sabden?”

The action group’s hopes are now focussed on a further meeting with the county, Transdev. the parish council and the borough to find the cash for at least a temporary replacement service.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “This is absolutely appalling behaviour by the county council.

“It is a compete dereliction of their duty.”

County Cllr Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "I'm well aware of the problems caused to people in Sabden, however our very difficult financial situation means the county council is not in a position to fund a replacement.

"I have offered to make some money available to part-fund a bus service for Sabden for the next six months and have asked officers to work with Ribble Valley Borough Council and Sabden Parish Council to look at how they could contribute to such a scheme."