Bus service cuts and a rail freight interchange topped the agenda of a residents association meeting tonight.

More than 20 people visited the Ark Theatre this evening for the most recent meeting of the Elstree and Borehamwood Residents Association.

Councillor Morris Bright kicked off the meeting as he spoke about the successful campaign to save the Elstree recycling centre, which EBRA played a large part in.

He said: “It has been a great success and between us all we have managed to keep it open. It goes to show that if people get involved it can make a big difference.”

Members also heard from Steve Simmons, of Sullivan buses, who spoke about the potential impact of the Hertfordshire County Council consultation regarding proposals to cut council subsidies for bus services.

He said: “The consultation says it is to improve services, but if I am honest it is basically to try to save money. There is scope for reducing funding but this isn’t the way of doing it.

“We will try to do something if Hertfordshire cut the evening and Sunday funding. But ultimately the only reason for cutting services is because people aren’t using them.”

The company will attempt to run the 306 service commercially every 90 minutes after 6.30pm and on Sundays, however south Borehamwood – including Furzehill Road - would not be served.

He also explained that buses can cost around £300 per service per day, and some services have an average usage of 1.5 customers per journey.

Mr Simmons urged people to sign the petitions and fill in the county council consultation to help save services in the county, adding: “As you’ve seen with the recycling, people do take notice.”

Another issue raised at the meeting involved Stirling Corner roundabout, the new Centre for Sporting Excellence exhibition and the rail freight interchange.

Town council mayor Pat Strack spoke against Eric Pickles’ plans for the interchange, which is due to be built through Radlett land.

Around 300 areas of green belt land is at stake under the plans, with 3,000 extra heavy goods vehicles on the roads.

Cllr Strack said: “We need to consider the impact this will have on our infrastructure. This is the last large piece of green belt between St Albans and London, and an operation such as this will change the area physically and socially.

“This railway network is not suitable for this project.”

Green belt member Ann Goddard read out letters of support from a number of important figures, such as leader of Hertfordshire County Council Robert Gordon.