A bus operator has apologised to passengers in Fareham and Gosport as strike action is set to see a reduced bus service multiple weekend in January.

First Bus has criticised Unite the Union, claiming it is causing passengers to miss "essential appointments" and "suffer unnecessarily" as staff plan to strike on each weekend this month.

A Solent from First Bus spokesperson said: “Throughout this extensive negotiation process, we have listened to Unite member feedback and made a number of offers in order to try and settle this dispute.

 “We have been open with Unite that we could not go beyond our final no strings offer of 7.8 per cent over two years.

“To be clear, this represents a 35.9 per cent pay increase since 2021.

 “Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite have decided to proceed with planned industrial action across three weekends in January.

“We have reminded them that it is our customers who are going to suffer unnecessarily and we would like to sincerely apologise for the disruption this action will cause. 

“First Bus know people will have essential appointments and rely on us, so we will do all we can using staff from other areas to keep as many services running as possible.”

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The company has detailed the services that will be running each weekend while the striking takes place.

Saturdays - January 11, 18, and 25.

Fareham – Portsmouth – Southsea - Buses will operate between Fareham and Cosham Health Centre only every 20-30 mins between 6.30am and 9pm.

Fareham – Lee – Gosport - Buses will operate hourly between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

Fareham – Rowner – Gosport - Buses will operate hourly between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

Fareham – Brockhurst – Gosport - Each route will operate half hourly between 7am and 8pm with a combined 15-minute frequency between Fareham and Fort Brockhurst.

Sundays – January 12, 19, and 26.

Fareham – Portsmouth – Southsea - Buses will operate between Fareham and Cosham Health Centre only every 30 mins between 8.30am and 6.30pm

Fareham – Lee – Gosport - Buses will operate a normal timetable except the 18:00 departures will not operate.

Fareham – Rowner – Gosport - Buses will operate hourly between 9am and 7pm.

Fareham – Brockhurst – Gosport - Each route will operate half hourly between 7.30am and 6.30pm with a combined 15-minute frequency between Fareham and Fort Brockhurst