THE 449 evening bus service from Hereford to Madley via Clehonger and Kingstone that we operate at I&S Coaches will no longer run after August 30.

This is due to Herefordshire Council not renewing the contract or re-tendering the route due to financial cutbacks.

We have operated this route for many years and it seems to have become part of the local community fabric and is used by all.

I just wonder if the public realise the timescale and financial pressure that the rural bus services have been under?

We have operated the route since 2008, being fully subsidised by the council.

In 2012 bus operators were asked to cut the operating costs of the services to the council, which we did – as did many other bus operators so that the services could be maintained.

In our case it meant taking a cut of more than half in council bus subsidy and taking over some of the route as a commercial service, and operating it with the little white Hopper-type minibuses.

This was just so the service and frequency could be maintained.

We have offered the council a further reduced financial package to maintain the service but this has been turned down due to their financial pressures and austerity measures. Due to the number of concessionary passengers and fare-paying passengers this type of service does require a small amount of financial support and cannot be operated on a commercial basis.

So it is with great sadness we say thank you to all the passengers who we have worked with over the years and a thank you to the Rail Users Association and associated persons. Hopefully when austerity measures end in years to come, bus services may return.

Can the last person leaving please shut the gate.

IAN PHILLIPS I&S Coaches, Ramsden Court, Rotherwas