SEVERAL residents were unable to attend a meeting to discuss bus services in Newton Abbot on Monday – because of the lack of a bus to get them there in the evening.

With more savage cuts in the offing, it was an ironic twist to the inaugural meeting of the Newton Abbot Local Transport Partnership at the town hall.

Town clerk Rod Tuck said several residents had made representations but had given apologies because they could not get a bus.

The town council formed the local transport partnership, which is chaired by Cllr Daphne Watts, as a fact finding mission and to look at ways the council can bring pressure for improvements.

Monday's meeting concentrated on the bus companies with representatives of Stagecoach, Country Bus, and Town and Country Coaches.

John Lacey, for Stagecoach, reported that Highweek and Bradley Barton would lose their evening service.

Service 70 (Newton Abbot-Highweek via Bradley Barton) would have its services terminated at 6.30pm Mondays-Saturdays, and 7pm on Sundays, while evening services 77 (Newton Abbot-Buckland via Oakland Road) and 78 (Newton Abbot-Buckland via Raleigh Road) also go.

In addition, Mr Lacey said 79 and 79A (Newton Abbot-Sandygate circular) services would be reduced from a 10- minute to a 20-minute frequency.

He explained the changes were purely for commercial reasons and reduced use of buses.

He was also questioned concerning Stagecoach's proposed withdrawal of its hail and ride facility and the introduction of bus stops, and said he would welcome suggestions for bus stop locations on the hail and ride routes affected.

Alison Ellison, for Country Bus, said its services had not been withdrawn, but some would be subject to change with effect from October 27.

There were revised details for service 174 (Newton Abbot-Torbay Hospital-the Willows via Aller, Milber and Kingskerswell).

For Town and Country Coaches, Julia Sim said it was necessary for her company to relinquish the Newton Abbot-Denbury-Ogwell service, adding that, unlike the other two companies, her company received a subsidy from Devon County Council.

Cllr Watts said it was disappointing that a number of services were being withdrawn or changed, but it was clear that if the bus services were not used they would be lost.

She said: 'We had a constructive, helpful, pleasant meeting and representatives of the coach companies were very helpful along with Colin Druce, of Devon County Council Transport Department.

'Regarding the loss of evening services to Bradley and Highweek, and Buckland, having listened to the enormous costs, with so few using it, I can understand why they are taking them off.'

Cllr Watts said she would be walking the Highweek route with a resident, and Cllr Henry Cole would do the same in Buckland, to establish the best places for residents to use the route once the hail and ride is withdrawn.

The new committee also intends talking to the rail companies, as well as looking at taxis and cycling.

It will be reporting its findings to the full council and Cllr Watts emphasised that it was vitally important to have public participation.

'Hopefully the public will attend meetings, write in, or put forward suggestions. We will be having another meeting in January when we will be able to see how the winter bus services have bedded down,' she added.