A CITY’S only park-and-ride bus service, used by hundreds of people every day, is to be sensationally scrapped.

Brighton and Hove City Council is on course to stop subsidising the route between Withdean Stadium car park and Churchill Square from April to save around £100,000.

Instead, the frequency of the 27 bus route, which passes by the stadium, will be increased from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.

The current park-and-ride service, used by 190,000 people a year - leaves every 12 to 15 minutes.

The move has been condemned by business leaders and the bus company as the new stopping service will take 21 minutes, rather than 12, to reach the city centre, and will not be waiting at the car park for drivers.

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said the replacement service is likely to encourage people to use free street parking in other areas of the city where there are more regular buses.

The news comes as council leader Mary Mears said officers were drawing up plans for a series of new park-and-ride services dotted around the city.

Mr French said: “If the council cannot afford to keep this park and ride running, then how will they be able to do the others? It is illogical.”

Tony Mernagh, executive director of Brighton and Hove Business Forum, said: “Park and ride without dedicated buses is not a park and ride.

“If this park and ride is not viable, I cannot see why a number of small park and ride services around the city would be.”

A council spokesperson said: “For the past few years the Withdean park and ride service has been funded from section 106 money from the Churchill Square development. This funding is due to end in April.

“As a result, the council is in negotiations with Brighton and Hove Bus Company to combine park and ride with the number 27 bus service which stops outside the car park at Withdean Stadium.

“Drivers will still be able leave their vehicles in the car park at Withdean and pick up the bus to the city centre.

“The park and ride scheme is aimed at drivers visiting Brighton from outside the area and our aim is to ensure that they can continue to park at Withdean and pick up a bus into the city centre.

“This is good news for residents of Westdene who will see the frequency of their bus service increase from half hourly to every 15 minutes.

The proposals will be discussed at a cabinet budget meeting next month.

Councillor Ian Davey, Green transport spokesman, said: “It leaves a big question mark over the council’s transport policy.”

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