Beleaguered bus company Thamesway is to be grilled by Billericay and Wickford pensioners anxious about cuts in services

The company dropped a number of what it considered to be under-used routes last month, a move which provoked outrage among many elderly people, who rely on the buses to get about.

Now Thamesway has agreed to send a representative to face its critics at a conference on issues affecting elderly people at the Basildon Centre on Wednesday April 7.

Also present will be Stephen Timms MP, Secretary of State for Social Security, who will be discussing the impact of the Budget on the elderly and outlining the Government's plans for welfare reform.

Cllr Alf Dove, chairman of the council's liaison committee, said: "These conferences give people the chance of discussing the issues concerning them with the organisations and people directly involved, and certainly local bus services appear to be a hot subject at the moment."

Transport to the event will be provided free of charge. For more details contact Maxine Williams on 01268 294489 or Kim Jordan on 01268 294144.

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