BUS passengers are being urged to have their say on proposals which could threaten the future of a number of subsidised services across West Somerset.

Somerset County Council has compiled a long list of routes that could lose their funding in a bid to save £1.5 million.

The services have been chosen based on a number of factors, including community value, the number of passengers and the cost of operating the route.

In West Somerset, the services under threat include the Webberbus 107 service from Wootton Courtenay to Minehead, the Quantock Motor Services 300 daily service from Minehead to Lynmouth via Porlock and the Ridlers 401 services from Bampton to Lynmouth.

Webberbus could also lose funding for the 499 Williton/Danesfield School route, the 500 from Monksilver to Williton and the 564 Minehead to Old Cleeve service.

The county council said social care and non-emergency health transport would not be affected by the cuts and pledged to continue to work with community and voluntary transport providers to try and expand their range of services.

A spokesman for the authority said: "The county council currently provides subsidised public transport on 108 routes across the county which are not fully commercially viable.

"This is to ensure there is an alternative to the use of private cars and to ensure isolated communities have access to jobs and services.

"The council is not legally obliged to provide any public or community transport services, but does have a duty to secure public transport services which would not otherwise be provided, where we feel this is appropriate

"Due to the current economic situation we must reduce the discretionary or supported services that we provide.

"The council has agreed to reduce bus subsidies by approximately £1.5m as part of our financial planning process to ensure we stay within our spending limits.

"This means that difficult choices will need to be made about where we provide support in the future, but does still leaves the council with approximately £1.6 million to provide subsidised public transport services where there would otherwise be no provision."

The proposed changes are currently subject to public consultation and details can be found on the council's website at http://www.somerset.gov.uk">www.somerset.gov.uk under the search term "bus service changes".

Details are also available by telephoning 0845 3459155.

Responses should be submitted by Friday, January 6.

Bus user Andy Lewis of Elm Grove, Minehead, told the Free Press: "Villages in West Somerset look likely to suffer.

"Anyone who feels these important services should be preserved should use this chance to make their voices heard."