BUS users in Teignbridge are being asked to air their complaints about services ahead of the latest stage of a public inquiry.

Teignbridge Council, along with other authorities in Devon, has been critical about levels of service over the last few months.

Stagecoach has been summoned by the Traffic Commissioner to a public inquiry to be held in October.

The bus company says a nationwide shortage of bus drivers has meant it has  had to concentrate it resources on the most popular services.

It says it is ‘working hard’ to resolve shortages and claims recent service changes are improving reliability ‘week by week’.

Stagecoach Devon has been called by the Traffic Commissioner to the Public Inquiry on October 27, organised by Devon County Council.

Dawlish town and district councillor Alison Foden says complaints need to be sent to county councillors in relation to bus services within Devon since October 1 2021 and September 30 2022 to put to the commission.

She said: ‘This is your chance to complain about the poor service, frequent cancellations, and the lack of regular buses for our communities.’

Her comments come just weeks after passengers heard they faced disruption following changes to services between Teignmouth, Dawlish and Exeter.

Cllr Foden, who works who works at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and is a regular bus user, has been campaigning for better public transport for some time.

Teignbridge District Council has previously called on Devon County Council to ‘urgently explore’ ways to improve public transport across the county.

The executive committee made a number of recommendations following notifications of changes to services on various routes serving Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Starcross, Exminster, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton, Bovey Tracey and Teignmouth.

October’s public inquiry will decide whether action should be taken against the bus company following complaints about its reliability.

Depending on the outcome, Stagecoach could be fined or prevented from operating local services.

Both Devon County Council and Teignbridge councillors have complained about Stagecoach with concerns about recent cuts to services and changes to routes.

The commission has been told passengers have been ‘angry’ about the company’s services.

Devon County Council has been asked to provide a schedule of complaints received about buses.

Cllr Andrea Davis, Devon county councillor responsible for public transport, has told the Traffic Commissioner that customer confidence in Stagecoach had ‘never been lower’ and that response to complaints was ‘dire’.

She has said the public was angry, customer response from Stagecoach was ‘failing and usually non-existent’.

Stagecoach South West has said it takes its responsibilities to deliver reliable bus services ‘very seriously’ but that all bus operators are facing a ‘difficult environment’ due to skills shortages.

It has said it will work with the Traffic Commissioner to ‘progress’ its recovery plans.

Cllr Foden is asking bus users to send complaints, by October 2, to Cllr Martin Wrigley at [email protected] or if resident in Starcross or Exminster to Cllr Alan Connett at [email protected]