?WE got it wrong? ? that was the admission this week from the managing director of First buses, following public outrage at the axing of its 84 service through Whitchurch.

Gerald Taylor spoke to councillors at this week?s meeting of West Devon Borough Council?s scrutiny committee ? and pledged that the service, plus others in the borough, would be re-examined by his company.

Mr Taylor admitted he was ?a bit surprised? at the level of concern expressed by bus customers over the removal of the 84 service and said he realised the company had failed to communicate effectively with the public over timetable changes.

He said: ?I think the one important message is that there is no intention of cutting off Whitchurch from the bus network.?

He said the company had learned an important lesson about the necessity of clear communication, but he denied the reason for cutting the 84 service was financial.

?The decision wasn?t made for a commercial purpose ? we have had to put in additional resources to run the changed service,? he said.

Mr Taylor said First had looked at the number of people making journeys on the 84 bus, but what they failed to do was establish the times of day when most trips were made.

He wanted to improve the ?connectivity? of the route with the main road between Tavistock and Plymouth and provide as fast and reliable a service as possible.

He said First was not a taxi service and could not run buses to suit every passenger ? but he wanted to work with the borough and county council to provide the best possible service.

?We are holding our hands up and saying we have to look at this again ? and get it right,? he said. ?It?s my passion to get more and more people using the bus.?

Mr Taylor said First was currently undergoing a review of its services and would look closely at this route and others, including those from Bere Ferrers, Bridestowe, Okehampton, South Zeal and between Launceston and Okehampton.

Once the company had come up with modifications to its timetable, it would consult Devon County Council and West Devon Council. Any changes would be likely to take effect from September 26, when the new timetable was due to be published.

Cllr Dick Eberlie said: ?I appreciate your frank confession ? it?s very encouraging ? I would like to urge you to consult with the borough council as well as the county.?

Committee chairman John Darch said it had been a ?very positive meeting?.