There are calls for East Christchurch to retain bus services.

A petition of 1200 signatures was presented to ECAN yesterday - calling for reinstating a regular bus service in the Linwood/Woolston/Bromley area.

Woolston Community Association chair Jackie Simons says stripping essential bus services from a low socio-economic area isn't fair, and they want an all day bus service.

"We didn't feel the consultation process was very fair for the people in the east. They were not familiar with how things work or how to do submissions, and for the most part, we didn't even know these bus cuts were coming."

Simons says some residents rely solely on the bus to get around, and not having regular bus services would have a huge social cost.

"If there is no bus for people to get to the shops, to visit their families or to get to work, things start to break down in the community. Community break downs, family breaks down, it adds to stress, people get sick."

ECAN has been approached for comment.