Significant changes to bus services to and from Exmouth to Exeter as well as within the area of Brixington being introduced this month have sparked concern among local residents, but assurances have been given by Stagecoach that the new routes will be reviewed.
Last month, the bus operator announced vast number of changes are being implemented across Devon's bus network due to a review of congestion and roadworks that is impacting bus services. Stagecoach have said its new timetables are aimed at improve the reliability and punctuality of buses.
All the new timetables will be in force by Monday, April 14. Among the controversial changes is to Service 57 from Exeter to Brixington via Topsham and Exmouth. Significant changes to the route and timetable are being introduced.
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According to Stagecoach, due to low demand for travel across Exmouth, the route will be separated in Exmouth Town Centre to ensure passengers will benefit from a more reliable and punctual service. Service 57 will operate between Exeter Bus Station and Exmouth Parade only. The section of route between Exmouth Parade and Brixington will be covered by a new Service 99.
During the early morning and late evening, some Service 57 journeys will continue to operate as new Service 99 and at these times, a through service to Brixington will continue to be provided.
The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency will be adjusted to operate every 20 minutes. There are no changes to the frequency of buses during the evening or on Sunday and Public Holidays. A small number of school day only journeys will be removed from the timetable.
It has prompted Brixington resident Trudi Cotton to launch a campaign opposing the changes. She was out collecting petition signatures last Saturday, March 30, in the Brixington shop area for three hours.
Her concern is the impact it will have on bus users, particularly the elderly and disabled, and that services will only run from Brixington to Exeter in the early morning or evening, meaning people who wish to take this route during the day will have to change in Exmouth. Signs on bus stops have reportedly already been changed.
Trudi said: "There are going to be through buses if these changes happen. You would get on Service 99 and its number will change in Exmouth town to Service 57, but these through buses only run in the morning and evening.
"The last through bus in the morning is the 7.38am (Pines Road) and 7.45am (Broadmead shops ) which gets into Exeter Bus Station at 8.52am. The first one which goes straight through on the return journey is the 6pm (Exeter Bus Station) which gets in at 7.05pm (Pines Road) and 7.11pm (Broadmead).
"These are based on the timetables which I received from Stagecoach and I advise you to check them carefully if these changes go ahead. I suggest that If Stagecoach can organise through buses in the morning and evening, they can organise them all day.
"It would be much easier for everyone, including the bus drivers. It would massively improve things for their disabled and elderly passengers who would find the change of buses hard, and those who need to go directly to the RD&E."
In response to Trudi sharing details on social media about her petition on Exmouth Community UK, one bus user said: "It's worked for years without difficulty so I cannot understand why the changes? I have been using this service for over 10 years to get to my hospital appointments and now it's been taken away.
"I can't even get off one bus and on to another without struggling to get round the corner to another bus stop then waiting for another bus, then the same again on a return journey. I dread to think how long it's going to take me to get there and back."
Another resident who was unsure about the changes said: "I see the pros and cons. There should be a through ticket to and from Exeter for all of Exmouth, allowing for bus changes in town to reach the final destination.
"The 'new' route needs to have enough capacity around Exmouth, as mentioned, and the timetable should allow enough time for all to change buses if wanting to reach Exeter. It could be good but it needs more thought."
In support of the changes, a bus user said:" I didn't like this at first as it would affect me, but having thought about it for a bit I think it's a good idea as a service running from town to Brixington would be more reliable than waiting for buses that have been held up between Exeter and Exmouth."
Stagecoach has explained the reasons behind the changes and has said it will keep the new routes under review to ensure it achieves its aims.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach South West said: “We always welcome feedback from customers on the routes we offer. The Stagecoach network is continuously under review so that we can best serve the local community.
"As with many new services there will be a period of change and adaptation as it becomes established and we appreciate this can cause some frustration for service users. Following a review of data and surveys on reliability, punctuality and passenger flows and demand, changes to the Service 57 route and timetable are introduced to ensure passengers will benefit from a more reliable and punctual service.
"Service 57 will operate between Exeter Bus Station and Exmouth Parade only. The section of route between Exmouth Parade and Brixington will be covered by a new Service 99. Service 99 will operate from Rolle Street in Exmouth Town Centre and will operate a circular route serving Brixington.
"We want to reassure bus passengers that while the service becomes fully mobilised, we will review punctuality data and will make any changes that may be required. Our primary focus remains to serve the community, getting residents and commuters where they need to go."
Concerns over Service 57 have already been raised by East Devon MP Simon Jupp. It is his belief that the service has been heavily impacted by trial roadblock schemes in Exeter.
He said: "I will continue to work with Stagecoach to improve the frequency of bus services connecting Exmouth to Exeter and villages in between. Unfortunately, increased congestion around Exeter has significantly contributed to timetable changes by Stagecoach.
"The Heavitree and Whipton Low Traffic Neighbourhood project is wreaking havoc and leading to major delays to local bus services. Despite my letter calling for Exeter’s Labour-run HATOC to scrap their traffic experiment immediately, the Labour-led group have failed to act.
"The sheer arrogance of the public reply to my letter by Labour councillor Danny Barnes, HATOC chair, demonstrates they’ve dug in so deep they don’t want to lose face ahead of local elections by scrapping it. I hope local residents deliver their verdict on Labour’s absence of leadership next month.”
