PUBLIC transport in Winchester has received a big boost after Stagecoach announced it is launching a better evening service.

Most buses after 7.30pm were slashed earlier this year, after the county council cut subsidies, but Stagecoach have reintroduced some services and more are planned for the autumn, the town forum heard last night.

The improved services will mainly be on the 3, 5, and The Spring routes that run to Kings Worthy and Weeke/Harestock.

They will operate on a commercial basis and receive no subsidy, so must attract enough customers to make them viable.

Cllr Janet Berry, Labour group leader, complained that Highcliffe and Winnall were being ignored.

"Winnall and Highcliffe are not benefitting at all. The last bus to Winnall is still at 9.05pm and the last bus from town to Tesco is 3.15pm when it is a 24-hour supermarket. The last bus to Highcliffe is 6.15pm. I would like the service to be more inclusive of all the town wards," she said.

Cllr Dominic Hiscock welcomed the beefed-up services as it could reduce car commuting into Winchester from the suburbs as people will be able to get home now on the buses.

He said: "People would have to drive into Winchester to get the train. I hope many people will take this up."

Town forum chairman Anne Weir said: "It is an excellent development, really good news. We should encourage an uptake to make these services viable."

The forum had suggested meeting neighbouring parish councils to provide more evening services.

But Steve Tilbury, corporate director, said: "Stagecoach have decided to improve evening services. I suggest we let this bed down and see how it goes."

Cllr Ian Tait said: "If we pander to the private car then public transport will always be the poor cousin. The more people use the buses the more likely the services will be retained and expanded."

The changes are:

• The Spring (Kings Worthy-city centre) – Improved morning peak services, with an extra bus at 7.38pm;

• No.3 (Harestock-Weeke-city centre) – Bus has been re-timed through the day. Extra bus at 8.10pm;

• No.5 (Badger Farm-city centre) – Extra bus at 8.05pm.

From October 25, Stagecoach will reintroduce more early evening to routes 1, 3, 5 and The Spring:

• The Spring (Kings Worthy-city centre) – Extra hourly service Monday to Saturday from 7.35pm to 9.35pm, and an extra 10.35pm service from Thursday to Saturday only;

• No.3 (Harestock-Weeke-city centre) – Extra hourly service Monday to Saturday from 8.10pm to 10.10pm (Monday to Wednesday for 10.10pm). The Town Forum bus will provide services at 10.10pm, 11.15pm and 12.15am Thursday to Saturday.

• No.5 (Badger Farm-city centre) – Extra half hour service Monday to Saturday from 8.05pm to 10.35pm (Monday to Wednesday 10.35pm).

The Town Forum 5A will provide services at 10.35pm and 11.40pm on Thursday to Saturdays.

• No. 1 (Winnall-city centre) – Extra hourly service at 8.05pm and 9.05pm.

• No. 1 (Stanmore-city centre) – Extra services Monday to Saturday at 7.35pm, 8.15pm, 9.15pm and 10.35pm. The Town Forum 5A bus will provide services at 10.35pm and 11.40pm on Thursday to Saturday.

From October 25, some of the Town Forum night buses will be re-timed by five minutes to give a better integrated late evening service.

The Park and Ride bus is currently allowed to serve non-P&R bus stops along Romsey Road after 7.30pm. It will cease to do so after October 25, when the no.5 bus will run every 30 minutes along Romsey Road after 7pm.