FIRST Western National has come under fire for its bus service between Tavistock and Okehampton, a month after being taken off the Peter Tavy route.
Criticisms of the 86 service between Tavistock and Okehampton have been sent to West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who is taking them up with the Department of Transport and Devon County Council.
Recently, First Western National was relieved of responsibility for the Peter Tavy route by the county's public transport group after an investigation into complaints by the public.
It was the first time such drastic action had been taken by the county for a number of years. The route has been given temporarily to C J Down of Mary Tavy and the job will be put out to tender for a long-term contract.
The head of the DCC's public transport group, John Richardson-Dawes, said the company had failed to operate effectively as specified in the contract. It had held the contract for several years.
Meanwhile transport minister Lord Macdonald has been asked by Mr Burnett about the 86 service, which is said to have become erratic, with a higher incidence of breakdowns.
The would-be passengers did not complain about the drivers, but about the management, noted Mr Burnett.
He has written to Lord Macdonald to ask whether the Government was putting enough pressure on bus companies to fulfil their public service obligations and has put the same point to county environment director Ed Chorlton.
First Western National Buses said it had recently experienced a shortage of drivers which could have contributed 'in a small way' to service delays, but this situation had now been rectified. It also said it was not always possibble to keep to the published timetables due to the volume of traffic at peak travel times.
Mr Richardson-Dawes said his group monitored all the bus services which the county subsidised and it could either impose financial penalties or terminate contracts if necessary. Complaints should be sent to him, with dates and times of service failures, he said.