Afterschool, Saturday and late evening bus services are set to be cut by Medway Council as they aim to make savings to the Public Transport Budget.

According to an email, which has been seen by the Medway Messenger, seven public bus routes which are subsidised by the council will be scrapped or reduced from April 1, and the MY School Bus sweeper service will stop running in September.

The email, originally sent by a council officer, said: “Unfortunately we have had to make savings to the supported bus service budget, and have looked at the services which have higher levels of subsidy per passenger.

“While it is appreciated that the loss of bus services is unwelcome we have also looked at journeys which have extremely low levels of patronage such as late evening or where there are alternative services nearby.”

The 5pm sweeper bus is a pre-booked service for children who take part in afterschool activities. There will still be a service straight after school and in the mornings to school. Between one and nine children use the service each night out of a total of 527 passengers.

Prices for the MY School bus are also set to rise by 5% with a one term season ticket costing £52.50 up from £50, two terms costing £100 up from £95, and an annual ticket costing £285 up from £270.

The email said: “Compared to the cost of using other bus services the MY Services will continue to provide scholars with excellent value for money.”

Under the proposals, the 121 Saturday service between Rainham, Darland, Gillingham and Chatham will be withdrawn from 9am to 6pm. The email says that there was an average of between four and 10 passenger per journey on Saturdays in November.

Alternative services in Rainham are the 327 and 132, or the train. For Darland, the M1 service will continue to run between 10am and 1.30pm. For Barnsole Road there is the 182 and 132.

Evening and late night services on the 132 Hempstead Valley, 140 Earl Estate, 145 Rochester and Warren Wood, 164 White Road Estate and Chatham Grove, and the 177 Walderslade and Wayfield will also stop running.

Under the proposals, the following changes will come in to force on April 1:

• 132 - the 11.10pm from Chatham and the 11.18pm from Hempstead Valley will stop running.In November those services carried three passengers.

• 140- the 10.57pm from Chatham and the 11.48pm from Earl Estate will stop. In November those services carried between one and five passengers.

• The last bus will be 10.37pm to Hempstead Valley, 10.18pm from Hempstead Valley; 11.27pm to Earl Estate, 10.48pm from Earl Estate. Alternative services between Chatham and Strood running after 11pm include the 151, 191 and 700.

• 145 -10.10pm from Chatham will stop. In November, an average of three people used the bus.

• 135 -11pm from Chatham will stop. In November, an average of two people used the bus.

• The last evening bus from Chatham to Warren Wood will run at 9.30pm.Alternative options include the 140, 151, 191 and 700 which will get passengers to Star Hill.

• 164- 6.10pm from Chatham will stop and the last bus leaving Chatham for the White Road Estate and Chatham Grove will be at 6pm, rescheduled from 5.50pm. In November, the bus had six passengers. Alternative routes include the 166 and 177 along Luton Road and the 101 in Maidstone Road, Chatham.

• 177-6.22pm from Walderslade will be withdrawn. Buses will still run at 6.07pm and 6.37pm. In November, 12 passengers used the bus.

• Funding for the 132 Sunday service will be withdrawn as it runs with minimal support from the council. It will continue to run every 30 minutes.

A decision will be made at the council budget meeting in February.

Will you be affected by the changes? Email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 01634 227803.