A DELEGATION of borough councillors is hoping today to persuade Stagecoach bosses to suspend their decision to axe the number nine bus service in Basingstoke.

Labour councillors Sean Regan, Criss Connor, Jane Frankum and Basingstoke and Deane's mayor Gerry Traynor will present a petition from residents to Edward Hodgson, Stagecoach commercial manager for Hampshire, when they meet at the borough council offices at 2pm.

The meeting will also be attended by Conservative councillor Christine Heath.

The operator's decision to withdraw the service on June 16 has sparked a storm of protest. The number nine runs between Lychpit, Chineham Centre, Popley, Basingstoke hospital, Winklebury, South Ham, Worting Road and Basingstoke town centre.

Cllr Regan, a ward councillor for South Ham, said: "We will be asking Stagecoach to suspend its decision to withdraw the service on June 16. They say they have consulted with the county council, but all they did was register the change.

"At the borough council, we only heard of the decision recently and we want more time to see if any alternatives can be put in place.

"I don't think they expected such strength of feeling.

There has been a very strong reaction, because the service is vital for getting people without cars to the hospital and the town centre. This makes me optimistic they may have a change of heart."

The petition has been signed by scores of residents who use the service.

Stagecoach bosses have stated not enough people use the number nine to make it commercially viable.

Hampshire County Council, the local transport authority, is currently considering whether to subsidise a full or part replacement for the bus. No decision has yet been made.