ELDERLY residents in Bleadon are distraught about changes to their local bus service which they say will take away their lifeline. Many pensioners catch the number 83 bus, which runs every hour and travels through the whole village, past the hospital at U

ELDERLY residents in Bleadon are distraught about changes to their local bus service which they say will take away their lifeline.Many pensioners catch the number 83 bus, which runs every hour and travels through the whole village, past the hospital at Uphill, through Oldmixon and Aller Parade, to Asda and then into town.According to North Somerset Council, it will be changed on April 1 to improve services to St Georges, with buses to Bleadon changed as a result.Sylvia Bird, aged 77, of The Veale, uses the current service three times a week and the bus picks her up from her street. The changes will mean she has to walk down a hill to get to the bus stop, as the number 83 will no longer travel through the whole village every hour.It will no longer journey through the Oldmixon to Asda, but instead it will go through Uphill and into town via the seafront.Miss Bird said: "I've got arthritis in my legs and back so I'm not going to be able to walk up and down the hill to the bus. A lot of people here are talking about having to get taxis now instead. We can't use the bus to go to the post office in the village anymore or go to the shops in Aller Parade or Asda. I also won't be able to get to my doctors."The bus is our lifeline and a lot of people here use it."The bus services have been changed after a review by North Somerset Council.A spokesman said: "As a result of the review, there will still be an hourly bus service to Bleadon, but it will only service The Veale every three hours."This has enabled us to fund additional bus services to St Georges, where our review identified there was a great demand."We are in ongoing discussions with Bleadon Parish Council about the matter and welcome any feedback from residents about the service.