A PENSIONER who suffers a debilitating illness fears plans to axe a bus will take away his lifeline to the outside world.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Bert Davies, of Newtown, will be left stranded if Chester City Transport abolishes the number 23 as part of an overhaul in services across the district.

The 75-year-old, who lives in an area with the highest density of elderly people in the county, catches the bus at the stop next to Francis Street park and opposite Rowland Heights flats to Chester city centre five times a week to buy groceries and pick up his medication.

Mr Davies, who was divorced 20 years ago, said: 'Without the bus I will be stuck. I have good days and bad days, but I cannot walk very far.

'On a good day I can make the walk to Brook Street. But there are not as many shops there as there used to be and there is no chemist.

'The shops on Faulkner Street in Hoole are much too far away and taxis are too expensive.'

Mr Davies, a retired Countess of Chester Hospital auxiliary nurse, added: 'I am not the only person in this position. In the block of flats where I live there are many elderly people who rely on buses.'

Thackary Towers resident Pat Jones, who also regularly uses the number 23, said: 'It is a disgrace that elderly people are being treated in this way.

'People who rely on the bus should not be left in the lurch just to make more money.'

The number 23 is one of many services that will be axed or rerouted as part of Chester City Transport's attempts to increase turnover.

The firm aims to axe non-commercial services and keep its buses on the main roads, but at the same time increase their frequency.

While many of its proposals have been welcomed, campaigns have been launched to save at least three services.

Residents in Blacon have sent in a petition in a bid to stop the company slashing the 2A service, which covers the Highfield Road area.

The loss of the number 26, which covers the Five Ashes Road area of Lache, is another controversial move.

During the last month Chester City Transport manager Stuart Hyslop has taken the proposals to area committee meetings across the city for consultation.

The firm's board of directors will submit its final draft proposals for consideration by the Chester City Council's cabinet later this month.

Chester city councillors Bob Rudd, Sue Atkinson and Gwyn Cooper have joined the fight to keep the number 23.

Cllr Atkinson said: 'This bus is vital for many elderly people in this area. They need the service to get to the shops and even to the doctors.'

Cllr Rudd said: 'We have written a letter to Chester City Transport asking them to reconsider.'

This week Stuart Hyslop said 'non-commercial but socially desirable services' could be kept following the consultation period.

He added: 'The council is the main shareholder in the company. It is up to them what they want to do with the extra profit. They could invest in new buses or keep some of the routes which are important to the community.

'These plans were always going to be controversial, you cannot please everybody. The figures show the number 23 is not commercially viable.

'I received a petition concerning the number 23 that is signed by about 30 people, some from areas like Handbridge and Little Sutton, where the bus does not go.

'If all of those people regularly used that bus then it would be viable.'