Bus routes serving most of the villages surrounding Halstead have been withdrawn.
Instead, Demand Responsive Transport, operated by Arrow Taxis, will cover the villages of Ashen, Sible Hedingham, Toppesfield, Steeple Bumpstead, Greenstead Green, White Colne and others.
Instead of using fixed routes with fixed stops and timetables, customers book journeys with the operator in advance and are picked up from an agreed point.
The wheelchair-friendly vehicles must be booked at least two hours in advance and run between 6am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday.
An average three-mile journey costs an adult £4 for a single ticket and £6 for a return journey.
The changes will come into affect from April 10.
Essex County Council held a consultation that ended in October about the changes, which it argues will make things more convenient for people in rural areas.
Routes affected: Provided by Arrow Taxis: 1 Ashen to Sudbury 5 Sible Hedingham to Sudbury 8 Toppesfield to Haverhill 23 Steeple Bumpstead to Braintree 89b Great Yeldham to Haverhill 323 Greenstead Green to Sudbury 329 Cross End to Halstead 331 Sible Hedingham to Sudbury SB22 White Colne to Braintree SB23 Tilbury Juxta Clare to Haverhill SB24 Birdbrook to Haverhill SB25 Alphamstone to Sudbury SB26 Belchamp Otten to Sudbury
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