County call to Government on vital bus links

DEVON County Council is calling on the Government to recognise the unique challenges faced by rural areas in providing and funding essential services, including public transport.

- WMN REPORTER

The call follows a meeting between senior councillors and Stagecoach managing director Peter Knight, prompted by widespread concern over fare increases.

Earlier this week Sir Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and Tavistock, and Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, met with Mr Knight to discuss fare and service changes.

Stagecoach has come under fire after deciding to end the X1 service which transports students from Tavistock to Plymouth. In addition school children face rising fares, while changes in ticketing methods mean pupils as young as 11 will be forced to use a smart phone to get reduced rates.

Stagecoach said it was introducing a more flexible ticketing structure designed to give families greater choice, adding that the X1 service was hard to sustain year-round under the existing pricing and funding model.

Devon County Council said it has discussed with Stagecoach the reasons behind the changes and the wider pressures facing rural transport. Councillors say they have received a significant volume of correspondence from residents across Devon, particularly families with children travelling to schools outside their catchment areas and post-16 students commuting to college.