Devon bus routes at risk in cuts are named

Details of which Devon bus services face being cut to save the county council £1.7m have been revealed.

The Conservative-controlled authority said the changes were part of its attempt to save £110m by 2017 because of government cuts.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, member for highway management, said service reductions "were no longer avoidable".

Crediton Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Way has launched a petition against the cuts.

He said: "The biggest blow here will be the withdrawal of the 607 town bus service used by non-car owners.

"Many of these people have mobility problems and are totally reliant on these services for their shopping and visits to the two doctor's surgeries in the town."

Other services that could be withdrawn include:

Services that could be reduced include:

Mr Hughes said: "We have pledged that no communities which are currently served by a bus will be entirely cut off, and these proposals intend to protect weekly links.

"Even when these savings are introduced, we will still be spending over £4m on public transport.

"On top of that, we'll be paying the bus companies in Devon a further £2.5m over and above what the government gives us to fund pensioners' free bus passes, which costs the county more than £9m a year to run."

The proposals were approved for public consultation by the council's Cabinet on 14 January. The consultation lasts until 20 April.

If they are approved by the full council, they will come into effect during the second half of this year.

The government said the funding grants settlement for 2015-16 was "fair for all parts of the country".