THE planned cuts to bus services in Cheshire have been put on hold after Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors said they were still unhappy with the county council's decision.

Two-thirds of bus routes in the county are to be saved, after Cheshire County Council's Conservative administration performed a U-turn over a number of journeys which were due to be axed.

But that still means 19 county council-supported bus routes will be dropped (another 18 are to be revised), which Labour and Lib-Dem councillors have attacked as 'a curfew on the young and the old'.

Labour Environment spokesman David Robinson, Labour group leader Derek Bateman and Liberal Democrat environment spokeswoman Molly Hale have together called in the decision made at the Executive meeting by the Tory administration.

That means the bus services involved will remain unaffected until the issue is discussed by county councillors at a date to be fixed.

'This whole controversy has been rushed through and still remains contentious,' said Cllr Robinson.

'We put the brakes on what had been decided for a number of reasons and, importantly, because we believe the views of residents have not been adequately given a hearing.

'Without this action, 19 supported bus routes would have simply disappeared - and very quickly.

'And the Executive has not stipulated how 18 daytime, evening and Sunday evening bus services are to be revised - and for many people that simply means a question mark hangs over their future.

'At present it appears that we are taking a knife to parts of the supported bus network - lopping off a piece here and there to save cash.

'But the problem, as we are all aware, does not offer such a simple solution. We need a coherent, up-to-date and workable policy involving ourselves, bus operators and other partners to form a new supported bus network - well before drastic surgery takes place.'

Cllr Bateman said: 'These bus services, particularly in the evening, are a lifeline for many people, who without them would feel isolated, indeed, cut off, from living their normal everyday lives.

'Simple trips to town, to meet friends or for appointments could not take place.

'The word 'revise', I know, will be read as 'to be axed' by many people - a good deal of reassurance, answers and plans need to be laid before the people of Cheshire about the future of the supported bus network.'