A councillor is continuing to fight for an “extremely popular” bus service after it was axed at the end of March.

The 346 Mullany’s service, which ran from the Meriden and Tudor estates to Watford town centre, was discontinued on March 31.

No alternative operators have come forward to take over the route, although Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to re-route alternative services to serve residents in the Balmoral Road area.

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Councillor Kareen Hastrick has been disputing the cessation of the route since the bus company’s decision was revealed in January, and is petitioning the council to financially support the “socially necessary” service.

She said losing the service was “bad news” for Meriden residents who relied on it.

“It’s clearly disappointing that other operators were unwilling to take on the route. While the estate will still be served by Arriva buses, elderly residents in Phillipers face a longer walk to catch a bus and I do believe this will restrict their independence,” she said.

“I will continue to lobby the county council for an alternative service or re-routing of existing services to ensure nobody misses out on the ability to visit shops, services, friends and family because they have no affordable transport available to them." 

Hertfordshire County Council said it had investigated possible short-term extensions to both services while all options were considered, although it was not possible to provide contracted services to replicate, even for a short period, either service in full.

The Mullany’s R8 Shopperbus service was discontinued at the same time as the 346 but the council agreed to retain in it a shorter capacity on a temporary “socially necessary” basis.  

Bus provider Mullany’s has so far declined to comment.