BUSES either arriving late or, in an increasing number of instances, not at all is becoming an experince had by a growing number of Teignbridge residents.

Over the past several months and on a near weekly basis, the Mid-Devon Advertiser has heard the testimony of many bus users frustrated with Stagecoach and the service, or lack thereof, provided by the company.

Elderly people having to wait hours for a bus which, in many instances, never showed up resulting in them having to walk or call for a taxi is something neither a bus service user or provider would ever wish for and yet it has been happening.

A Stagecoach South West spokesperson said ‘As with many industries across the country, we have been experiencing staff shortages that are beyond our control due to external factors affecting the wider transport and logistics sector.  

‘Our team have been working hard to resolve this and we’ve put in changes to improve the reliability of key services and keep passengers connected across our most popular routes.

‘We have seen this improving week by week and are confident this will stabilise very soon.

‘We will continue to keep our passengers regularly updated on our website and social media channels in the meantime.

‘We would like to thank all of our passengers for their patience.’

Cllr Mike Ryan was, it is fair to say, less than impressed with Stagecoaches statement.

The Newton Abbot town councillor for Brunel ward said: ‘This is the same excuse Stagecoach has been using for several years now, regarding looking on their website and so on.

‘This is no good when you are waiting at a bus stop and the bus doesn’t turn up as with the 77a two weeks ago.

‘The last bus did not operate on the Sunday night and there are not taxis around: if you are elderly, how are you expected to get home?

‘Not all older people have access to a computer or smart phone and can check Stagecoach’s website.

‘There have been times when I have been waiting at Newton Abbot bus station and some people have been waiting there for an hour if not longer.’

Mayor of Newton Abbot, Cllr Carol Bunday, was equally unimpressed with the statement provided by Stagecoach.

Cllr Bunday said: ‘This is a standard reply which tells us nothing, apart from Stagecoach being sorry, and that they put information on the website and though social media, which to be fair is not always up to date and not everyone can access the information anyway.

‘They are maintaining the most lucrative routes, at the expense of others, and these others are the routes that are needed the most, routes which service our highly populated areas, not always the most heavily used but essential for the people who rely on them. 

‘One example of the lack of information from Stagecoach, is the 77A & 88A (Which is a subsidised route by DDC) service which runs up though Bradley Barton/Valley, due to Woodleigh Rd being closed, the bus has been forced to take a detour, understand the need for this but Stagecoach has not to my knowledge sent any information out to the residents of the area involved or even put signs on the Bus Stop on route informing people of the temporary closure.

‘Stagecoach says what they think people want to hear but, in my opinion, they do not listen, you can be stood in the bus change over area in Newton Abbot the information board is not always up to date and no-one is available to help or talk to passengers, not even the drivers are fully aware of the ongoing situation.

‘Stagecoach has a Legal Contract which sets out a legally enforceable Service Contract it is about time Stagecoach was made to perform to that contract for the benefit of all their passengers.’