AN ARDENT bus campaigner is angry at a ‘disastrous’ decision to reduce services in Teignbridge.

Dawlish town and district councillor Alison Foden says the move to cut frequency of the 2 service between Exeter and Newton Abbot from three buses an hour to to is detrimental to local residents who need a regular, reliable bus service.

Bus company Stagecoach announced in April it would be introducing a more frequent service 2 to operate every 20 minutes instead of the previous 30 minutes.

But now, Stagecoach has confirmed from August 31, the service will revert back to every 30 minutes.

Cllr Foden, who has been campaigning for better services along this route for more than eight years, say the 20 minute service was ‘brilliant’.

She said: ‘This was welcomed by many local residents.’

Cllr Foden uses the 2 service regularly to commute to work at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

She said: ‘I saw a large increase in the number of local people using the bus to commute to and from work every day, particularly people in key services in Exeter, at the hospitals and university, and Dawlish Hospital.

‘I find it odd that only five months after introducing the every 20 minute frequency bus service, that Stagecoach have reverted to every 30 minutes during the day, with an even worse service during peak commuting time at the beginning and end of the day.’

The 2 service route operates from Exeter to Newton Abbot, via Dawlish, Teignmouth, and villages of Exminster, Kenton, Cockwood, Holcombe, Kingsteignton, and Bishopsteignton.

A spokesman for Stagecoach said: ‘Following the end of the peak summer season, the Monday to Friday daytime frequency will revert back to every 30 minutes.

‘Working in partnership with Devon County Council, we will be assessing the success of the frequency increase to help inform future changes.’

Cllr Foden began campaigning for better services in 2017 when she called for a reversal of the cuts when the then 20-minute service was first cut to only every 30 minutes during the day, and once hourly at evenings.

Cllr Foden argues five months of the 20 minutes service is not long enough to test a new timetable.

She said: ‘While September 1 may be considered the end of the peace summer season, life and business in Dawlish Teignmouth, Exminster, Kenton, Starcross, Holcombe, Cockwood and Kingsteignton continues all year round.

‘Local residents continue to require a regular, efficient, and reliable bus service all year round; commuters continue to require transport to and from work and a reliable and frequent bus service during peak commuting time and young people continue to require a good bus service to and from school and college.’

She claims there has been no consultation with passengers on services she has used.

In response, Stagecoach said: ‘We greatly value and appreciate feedback, and we encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us directly.’

Cllr Foden also said fewer buses mean less opportunity for people to use it which, she argues, means less income for Stagecoach, more traffic congestion, increased air pollution, delayed and fuller buses.

She says people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs are also disadvantaged, as there is only one space for one of these on each buses.