Campaigners trying to save Swale’s under-threat bus services are making a last-ditch attempt to rustle up support.

Richard Shannon, Jackie Davidson and Tony Gray are planning to be at Sittingbourne’s market in the High Street on Friday and Sheerness market next Tuesday from 10am collecting signatures for their petition against proposed Kent County Council cuts. On Saturday KCC Green councillor Rich Lehman (Swale East) will be at the Ship Inn, Conyer, from 10am to 1pm to hear comments.

Mr Shannon, 66, from Conyer, said: “We have collected about 400 names so far and are hoping to get at least 500.”

But he admitted: “Although many comments have been positive, there still appears to be considerable apathy with some just saying they don’t use the buses so it doesn’t concern them.

“But we are fighting for those who don’t have vehicles and rely on public transport to get to places like hospitals, GP surgeries and the shops.

“This could be the thin edge of the wedge. If we lose even one bus it is likely we will never get it back. These cuts risk confining the elderly and disabled to the four walls of their homes.

“There are still many people who still don’t know about KCC’s consultation. We could do with more help from our Sittingbourne and Sheppey councillors to spread the word and help fight this.”

KCC is planning to axe £2.2m of public subsidy for the routes in the next financial year to balance its books and is holding a consultation until April 20.

Routes at risk are the 8, 9, 343, 344, 345 services around Sittingbourne, the 332 which links Deans Bottom, Stockbury and Yelsted, the 360 Leysdown, Eastchurch, Minster, Sheerness, West Minster Sunday service, the 664 Conyer to Lynsted service and the Swale Kent Karrier.

To make your views known to the council, visit www.kent.gov.uk/bussavings. To request hard copies, email bussavings@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421437 referencing KCC Bus Funding Reduction.