THE future of an addition to a Maldon bus route put on to provide services between Heybridge and the town is in question, it has emerged.

While the main 288 route is not under any threat, an extension to the service to take it through West Heybridge six times a day may have to be withdrawn if a funding solution is not found.

Running in a one-way loop turning left from The Causeway, then through Holloway Road, Heybridge Approach, the High Street and on to the Tesco superstore at Fullbridge, the extra journey - though fares are charged - has been subsidised by Heybridge Parish Council for years, as it is not commercially viable.

However, there are believed to be a small number of regular users of the service who may find it difficult to use the 'alternative' service - in other words, taking the walk from West Heybridge to The Causeway to catch the main 288 service.

At a meeting of Heybridge Parish Council's Environment and Facilities Committee on Wednesday (11 August) the issue of funding the extension to the service was on the agenda.

Chair of the meeting, Councillor Miriam Lewis, said: "This parish council no longer has the funds to continue with this arrangement, partly due to splitting with Heybridge Basin."

Cllr Lewis added that Stephensons, the bus company running the service, had been helpful and understanding, with a willingness to approach Essex County Council (ECC) to see if the £3,000 to keep the extra part of the route could be found.

In addition to this, the bus company has shortened the cancellation time needed for the extra service so that there is more time to find the cash.

But Cllr Lewis also told the meeting that a preliminary email from the parish council to ECC had brought a response saying that there is no capacity to help in this year's budget.

The meeting resolved to approach ECC to ask for an Impact Assessment on the closure of the extension through West Heybridge.

Following the meeting, Maldon Nub News approached ECC for a comment.

A spokesperson for ECC said: "The majority of bus services in Essex are provided commercially but some bus services are subsidised by Essex County Council, where there is a clear need to support a service vital to the community and a commercial service does not exist. This is not a statutory service of the county council.

"If the service is not being used enough to be commercially viable and is withdrawn, where there are no alternative services available Essex County Council will assess the impact on the community. In this case there are alternative services available."