A DECISION to scrap two bus services has provoked outrage from hundreds of passengers.

First Manchester will be removing the 519 and 520 services, which run from the Johnson Fold Estate to Bolton town centre, from September 3.

In their place, the existing 501 bus route will be extended to Johnson Fold — but residents say the provisions are inadequate.

More than 240 people have signed a petition urging First to reconsider, after concerns were raised about a price increase and the difficulty of accessing vital services on Chorley Old Road.

Pete Hopkinson, of the In The Fold community group, said: “Removing these services cuts people off from a whole stretch of Chorley Old Road, where there are schools, doctors, and a supermarket.

“For elderly and disabled people it will be a nightmare to get an extra bus, especially if they are carrying shopping.

“There has been no consultation at all — we only found out when the bus drivers told us.

“Johnson Fold is a deprived area, so it is wrong to also have a price rise at the same time as sections of the area are being cut off from the bus services.”

It currently costs £1.30 to go from Johnson Fold to the town centre on the 519 or 520, compared with £1.70 on the 501.

A spokesperson for First said: “The Great Lever section of the 519/520 will be replaced by services 571/2 operating to the same frequency.

“The decision to withdraw the Bolton to Johnson Fold section of 519/520 has been taken after careful consideration of the low patronage of the service, as well as the bus network in the area.

“The extension of the 501 to Johnson Fold ensures that residents continue to benefit from a high frequency bus service to and from Bolton. It also provides some new links such as Johnson Fold to Royal Bolton Hospital. However, some links between Johnson Fold and Chorley Old Road will now require a change of bus between First 501 and Stagecoach 125, both of which operate every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime.”

Local politicians are united in their support for the community group.

Bolton West MP Chris Green said: “We can’t have this much needed service taken away, which is why I am urging local people to sign this petition. I’ll be raising this issue with transport bosses and urging them to re-consider this decision.”

Former Labour MP Julie Hilling added: “The bus company has made a decision without consultation and without thinking about the effect on people who are dependent on that bus to get to doctors and to do their shopping. The alternative proposal is totally inadequate.”

Smithills councillor Andrew Martin, the town’s Lib Dem leader, said: “A lot of residents, particularly those on low income and the elderly, depend on these services and we really need them to be saved.”

To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/phil-medicott-managing-director-of-first-manchester-stop-first-bus-removing-the-519-service-serving-johnson-fold