NEWTON Abbot Town Council has called on Stagecoach to explain why bus passengers have been left stranded on the roadside or facing long waits.

Among the routes affected by late or missing services are the 77 which serves Hele Park and Buckland, the 12 to Torbay and the 39 to Bovey Tracey and Exeter.

Last week the problem was discussed by town councillors, angered by a lack of communication from the operator.

Mayor Cllr Mike Joyce told members he had written to the firm but not received a response.

Councillors agreed that a second letter be sent asking Stagecoach to table proposals to resolve the matter.

Cllr Joyce said: ‘We are hearing from a lot of residents who are utterly fed up with the poor service they are receiving.

‘What’s more, they’re not communicating properly, we’ve had no response to our official letter and when I tried phoning them their colleague simply said he didn’t know what to do and then hung up on me.

‘It’s not good enough, the people of Newton Abbot deserve better.’

In a statement Stagecoach South West managing director Mike Watson apologised for his slow response and blamed the problems on people leaving the industry and high Covid-19 infection rates.

Pay increases were now being offered and a ‘huge’ recruitment drive had attracted new drivers.

Warning that some services might yet be suspended he said: ‘I personally wake up in the middle of the night thinking about passengers waiting at bus stops and it is something I really struggle with.

‘The situation we have been dealing is unprecedented in my career and has resulted in our service being nowhere near the standard you are used to.

‘The next six months will be very difficult for us all but I promise we are doing the best we can. Please understand that this is hurting us all and some of my staff have left simply because they can stand letting customers down.

‘It is emotionally draining for all of us as we know how much people rely on us. But please be assured we are doing what we can to try and get back to the standards you are used to.’

He added: ‘We ask customers to check our website but also download the app, which shows all buses moving round on a map and you can zoom in on your bus stop and see when the next bus is coming.

‘It helps in the current situation.’