PORTISHEAD pensioners campaigning for a bus service to be reinstated, say they are being victimised.

Senior citizens living in the South Road area saw the bus service, which linked their homes to shops and the town’s health centres, axed earlier this year as part of a budget-cutting exercise.

After months of calling for North Somerset Council to reinstate the bus link, the authority has now put forward a proposal to implement a community transport service to cover the area. The cost however could be up to �2 per journey for each person, which has angered the residents involved.

Barbara Davies, aged 80 of Seville Road, says they are appalled at the proposed costs, as the senior citizens could use their bus passes on the previous bus service, allowing them to travel for free.

She said: “We feel we are being victimised. While pensioners in other parts of town are getting free transport, we are expected to pay up to �2 for a journey to the shops. That will put an extra �4 on each shopping trip and when you are living on a pension that is just not acceptable.”

Town councillors have agreed to forward their ideas on the matter to Cllr Reyna Knight, who will compile a report in response to North Somerset Council’s proposals.