There are fears that residents in the borough could be left stranded if key bus services are reduced by Hampshire County Council.
The authority is undertaking a county-wide consultation on the future funding of subsidised bus routes.
In Basingstoke there are up to eight routes that could be scaled back.
Leader of Basingstoke’s Labour group, Councillor Laura James, has hit out at the consultation and said it could lead to higher fares and a reduced service. She said: “We strongly believe that the evening and Sunday services which face cut after cut could tip routes into a spiral of decline from which they will struggle to recover.
“In some parts of the borough the entire bus network could be left in tatters.”
The county council currently provides extra cash to bus companies running services that lose money.
In Basingstoke, routes Jazz 1 to 7 and route 55 are subsidised after 7pm and on Sundays.
Cash for the bus operators comes from the county’s environment department budget, and the rural bus subsidy grant.
Following central Government funding cuts to Hampshire, the £6.7m a year spent by the county will have to be reduced to help reach a saving target of £55m.
The council is looking to save up to 1.2m from its environment budget, and the £1.6m rural bus grant is being reduced by 33 per cent.
Executive member for the environment, Councillor Mel Kendal, said the review would not leave communities stranded.
He said: “Decisions on services are a matter for commercial bus operators but we aim to ensure that communities, which currently have access to public transport, are not left without any form of passenger transport service at all following the review.”
But Cllr James believes any service cutback will affect everyone in the borough.
She said: “Evening and weekend services will become a thing of the past in many areas and additional provisions to encourage bus patronage are in jeopardy.
“Vulnerable people across the borough who rely on buses for essential journeys could be left stranded.
“Young people who need affordable bus services in order to give them a chance to take up opportunities in education and work, and to take the first steps to independence will be hit.”
The county council is urging bus users to tell it which services are the most important.
This will be combined with data collected by bus companies on how often a route is used during the day to make a decision.
The deadline for feedback is Tuesday, May 31. For more information, visit www3.hants.gov.uk
