NEARLY 6,000 have had their say on the review of subsidised bus services in Wiltshire.

The public consultation is being carried out as part of wider plans to help Wiltshire Council save millions of pounds on their transport budget over the next three years.

The council have stressed that no savings are planned from the transport budget this year however.

Half of the bus mileage in the county is subsidised to the tune of £5.1 million per year from Wiltshire Council as many routes are not commercially viable otherwise.

Philip Whitehead, cabinet member for transport said: “I would like to thank everyone who’s taken part so far.

“Each response is hugely valued and will help shape how our bus services run in the future. I would encourage anyone who is yet to submit their thoughts, to do so.

“This is about creating sustainable public transport for Wiltshire for years to come.”

People can take part in the consultation by visiting consult.wiltshire.gov.uk

Paper copies can be picked up in council offices, libraries, on buses operating contracted services, or people can call 0300 456 0100 to have one posted to them. The consultation runs until April 4.

The review will also consider how community transport might be able to assist with public transport, and will be accompanied by continuing work to identify savings in other areas of the council's passenger transport spending.

Once the consultation ends, a report will go to Wiltshire Council's cabinet members to make a decision.