BUS users had the chance to voice their concerns on Monday over the scrapping of the X1 direct bus link from Tavistock to the railway station in Plymouth.

Stagecoach South West announced that from September 3 there would no longer be a direct bus from the town to Plymouth’s train station, a decision which has caused upset within the community.

A public consultation event was held in Bedford Square, organised by Stagecoach bosses and Devon County Councillor Debo Sellis, in order to give concerned members of the public a platform on which they can have their say over the issue.

Managing director of Stagecoach Bob Dennison said the day was about listening to people‘s concerns and showcasing a possible new route to accommodate those who wish to still access the railway station.

‘We have been looking at ways to route through Mutley Plain to the train station and we wanted to find out from people if that route would be suitable and the majority of people I have spoken to have been in favour. It is good to see so many people and show them the change of route.’

Tavistock resident Kevin Eady attended the event. He said: ‘What gets me is that if you speak to people they will say what a bad idea that was, so how can they make a decision at odds with what people think?’

Resident Jane Robinson commented that she was concerned as the ‘whole decision was made without concern of people with disabilities and people with young children.’

As well as restricting Tavistock residents going further afield, the axing of the X1 service has also been deemed damaging to town businesses after some people commented that it now stops them from coming into the town.

Hazel Farrant who lives on Tavistock Road, on the outskirts of Plymouth, said the Stagecoach bus to Tavistock used to stop outside her front door, but she now has to walk three quarters of a mile to get a bus.

‘I used the bus four times a week. It means I can’t visit my elderly friend in Tavistock as much as I want. I have to walk to The George to get a bus, which is about three quarters of a mile away and takes 22 minutes and you have to cross four major roads to get there.

‘Over 1,500 people have signed a petition asking for the bus to go back to the way it was. Why, after 70 plus years are they axing this bus? I remember using this bus as a little girl, we used to go to The Meadows in Tavistock for a picnic.’

Cllr Sellis said: ‘Tavistock residents have shown their mettle and commented on the real issues that are affecting people in regards to the buses. This is affecting local traders, school children and many people of retirement age and working people have all been represented today.

‘Stagecoach were very helpful — there had been no hesitation to get the business here and listen to people’s concerns. The whole day was very proactive.’

West Devon Borough Councillor for Tavistock South West Graham Parker said he was concerned that arguments made by Tavistock and Plymouth residents alike to save the X1 bus had fallen on deaf ears, but was hopeful that Stagecoach would consider rerouting the 1 bus to run along North Road to serve the train station.

An online petition to fight the changes to the X1 bus route was created by Muriel Allan and Dr Marion Nash and reached 1,688 signatures in a week.

Muriel attended the consultation and said: ‘People from Tavistock, Plymouth, Yelverton and Horrabridge joined together as a community to tell Stagecoach how the changes had affected their lives and the lives of their families.

‘We saw many people expressing anger, some were sad, no one was untouched by the impact of the changes.’

The petition is available on www.change.org

The bus company announced the changes as part of the first significant revamp of the operator’s services since it took over a number of routes from First Devon and Cornwall in September 2015.

• Pictured are people at the Stagecoach consultation event.