Members in Mid Devon have voted to lobby for improved bus services across the district, following a meeting of the Full Council on 31 August 2022.

Cllr Woollatt, ward member for Cullompton North, brought forward the motion for the district council to contact Stagecoach, Devon County Council, the Traffic Commissioner and local MPs, following the recent changes to bus services in Mid Devon.

The motion expressed concern regarding changes to routes and also seeks the reinstatement of route sections which have been removed, where the removal is found to have had a detrimental effect on some protected groups of people. The motion also outlined issues with the reliability of the current services, timetable connection problems and the impact on young people travelling by bus to school or college.

Cllr Woollatt, ward member for Cullompton North, said:

“As changes have affected all parts of the district I felt that we should, as a council, raise our concerns to the relevant bodies on behalf of all our residents. I am pleased to hear there is going to be a public inquiry. I hope that something can be done to address the current unreliability of the service being provided and that the impacts of the cuts, particularly where changes to routes have left communities with little to no service, will be considered.”

As part of the motion, Members also wanted to make the public aware of how they can feedback their concerns. If you have any concerns about Stagecoach bus services in your area please let us know and contact customerservices@middevon.gov.uk.  

Stagecoach Devon has been called by the Traffic Commissioner to a Public Inquiry on 27 October 2022.