BUS passengers in and around Southampton will have fewer services after a timetable shake-up next weekend.

Critics fear the changes will put some off using public transport, and isolate residents living outside the city.

First Bus says its plans will improve reliability and add seats to several popular routes, as well as make travel easier for the elderly and passengers in wheelchairs or with prams and pushchairs, as it upgrades its fleet with more low-access buses.

Four services are to see the number of buses running halved on Sunday evenings.

The 8 and 8A services – which currently travel between Coxford, Shirley, the city centre, Bitterne, Townhill Park and onto Hedge End – will now be split to stop in the city centre.

First says through fares will be available to stop passengers having to pay twice, but critics say having to change buses could lead to fewer people using the services.

Bus user Clive Shutler, from Shirley, said: “Splitting the 8A means people who have to get from one side of the city to the other will probably be put off getting public transport because they’ll have to change in the city centre where it gets busy.

Mr Shutler said the plans to make Sunday evening services on the 1, 7, 7A, and 17A routes only run every hour could mean people are less likely to venture out.

He said: “These services are very well used, but it’ll put people off going out on Sunday evenings.”

The changes to the 8A is also one of several changes to services around Hedge End, with the route no longer stopping outside the Rose Bowl, and late evening services terminating at the superstores rather than the cricket ground.

The 16A between Hedge End and Hamble is being axed, replaced instead by an extended number 26 route – between Hedge End and Fareham, via Botley – serving Lowford, Netley and Hamble.

Don Harper, secretary of the Southampton Pensioners’ Forum said he fears the changes could cause problems for those living outside the city boundaries.

He said: “It’s isolating the outer reaches of the city when they should be concentrating on getting people into the city centre.”

First Hampshire and Dorset’s managing director Marc Reddy said the changes have come about after a review of passenger use.

He said: “Most of the changes being made in Southampton in October are designed to improve the punctuality and reliability of services, while in some cases the frequency of buses is changing slightly.”