A HOUSING association is donating community funds to help residents get in and out of a village hit hard by County Hall cuts.

Ribble Valley Homes has donated £1,000 to be spent on taxis to replace the buses which no longer run in Sabden for those who live in social housing in the area.

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Five taxi journeys a week will be put on for residents, who have been left stranded in the village after the recent bus cuts.

Christine Grimshaw, Ribble Valley Homes managing director, said: “It’s about assisting the tenants. We’re trying to make sure people can still get out and move around.

“It’s a short-term plan until we can get something done, but there needs to be a long term solution for the people of Sabden.”

Services will be provided to bus stops in Clitheroe, Padiham and Whalley among other popular destinations which will help people in the housing move around. The move comes as people believe the cuts are having a damaging effect on those in need who live in the social housing.

Cllr Ged Mirfin, who sits on Ribble Valley Council and is also a board member of Ribble Valley Homes, said: “Huge applause is deserved for Ribble Valley Homes for doing their bit. “There’s a difficulty to let public housing because of the lack of public transport available, it’s one of the hidden elements of the cuts.

“I’m utterly furious, people in the social housing in Sabden are being penalised.”

While the move has been welcome in the short term, Sabden bus campaign organiser Paul McKenna has said he is becoming increasingly frustrated at attempts for a long term solution.

He said: “We’re struggling, it’s extremely frustrating.

“It seems crazy what is happening, Sabden is being made a scapegoat. It’s like we’re going back in time. I’m struggling to understand the decision.”

County Hall bosses said they were forced to axe the supplemented funding for buses in Sabden if there was to be any hope of meeting Government budget cuts of £262million in the next five years.