ANGRY residents clashed with transport chiefs at a meeting called over the controversial decision to axe a vital bus service.

From September 3 The 519 bus service from Johnson Fold to Bolton town centre will be scrapped together with the 520 service, and replaced with an extended 501 service.

About 70 people packed into The Hope Centre, in Johnson Fold, to grill a panel from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and bus operator First Manchester about the decision.

Also on the panel were ward councillor Andrew Martin, Chris Green MP, Cllr David Chadwick – Bolton Council’s representative on the TfGM committee – and Labour activist Julie Hilling.

At the beginning of the meeting residents challenged Phil Medlicott, managing director of First Manchester, to explain the company’s decision to remove the service they say is a lifeline for many.

Mr Medlicott responded by telling the room that the route was no long financially viable, but the area would still be served by First Manchester.

He said: “We have obviously been looking at the network in this area and the 519 and 520 is a significant loss making service and so, looking at that service we mapped out where all the people travelled to see if there was anything else we could do to make some saving but keep as much of that network as possible.”

And he insisted that the estate would still receive a ‘good standard of service’ and that the extension of the 501 route was ‘the best alternative’ the company could introduce.

But angry residents and campaigners said the decision which would hit the elderly and disabled hardest and cut them off from local doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies and a Morrisons supermarket.

One said: “Have you considered the old people who come out to get on a bus and have to walk down to Chorley Old Road or Moss Bank Way it’s a long way for those people and it means they are trapped.”

Another told the panel the decision was ‘madness’. He added: You are old you are being penalised – that’s not fair.”

And one resident said: “If you look around here tonight, how many people have got disabilities that rely on the 519 and you are taking that away from them.”

But come the end of the meeting there was a suggestion that there may still be room for compromise.

Meeting organiser Pete Hopkinson told the panel he wanted to find a way forward through talks involving a residents group, TfGM, First Manchester and local politicians.

Afterwards he told The Bolton News: “I was really proud of how it went. Everyone got their chance to put their views across and got answers, as well.

“Hopefully a group of residents and a cross party committee , that’s what I hope will come out of this.

“There’s no definitive it will change, but hopefully they will have recognised the strength of feeling tonight.

“And, no matter what, if the changes do come in, we will still keep fighting.”