THE postbus service between Hawick and Bonchester Bridge is to be axed.
And the controversial move has left pensioners who live in the countryside feeling cut off.
Royal Mail confirmed this week that the service, which has operated for more than 20 years, will stop from April 4.
But one pensioner who has used the bus for the last 17 years and did not wish to be named, told the Hawick News this week it has le
ft elderly residents isolated.
She said: "There's about nine or 10 regular pensioners who use it every day and some of us use it three times a week. This is really going to hit us hard.
"We're really cut off. I spoke to a few of the pensioners and they're all cut up about it. We've had it for so long, it's really terrible that they're taking it away."
The move has been blamed on too few passengers and a lack of funding from the local authority, who subsidised the service to the tune of £3,450 last year.
And a spokeswoman for Royal Mail said ultimately the responsibility for a transport service fell at the feet of Scottish Borders Council.
"The route has very low passenger numbers and the financial subsidy from the local authority does not make this route financially viable," she said.
"Royal Mail is first and foremost a postal operator, not a transport company, and our first priority is the collection and delivery of mail.
"The provision of public transport is not the responsibility of Royal Mail, but of the local transport authority, in this case Scottish Borders Council. Where possible Royal Mail is committed to providing postbus services alongside its core business of collecting and delivering the mail."
Royal Mail had asked for a subsidy increase to £6,500 per year for the service. As it carries around 900 passenger journeys per year this would result in a cost increase from £3.80 per passenger to £7.20.
However, it is understood the decision to withdraw the service was made prior to SBC's budget being agreed yesterday.
Matthew Mace, SBC's passenger transport manager said: "We are disappointed, if not surprised, at the sharp price increases the Royal Mail had asked for in continuing the Postbus services with the Borders.
"The council currently funds a demand-responsive transport service between Bonchester Bridge and Hawick which we hope users of the Postbus will use instead.
"In the meantime, questionnaires are being sent to all Bonchester Bridge residents to assess the public transport requirements of the area."
