PASSENGERS depending on bus services between Tavistock and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth say a new schedule being brought in by the operator will cause them huge journey problems.

Rescheduling to the services 83, 84 and 86 on the popular Tavistock-Plymouth route means that after Easter, although three times an hour services will continue during the day, ones to Derriford Hospital will be reduced to one an hour by First Bus in the busy afternoon period.

Julie Austen, who lives in Tavistock, and works in Plymouth, depends on the service to get to work.

She said: 'I have just found out that as from after Easter First Bus is reducing buses between 9.53am and 3.53 to one an hour.

'The only bus calling into the hospital during this period will be the 84, meaning anybody living between Bishopsmead and Tavistock Bus Station, will not have a service.

'The 83 was cut from calling into Derriford Hospital a year or so ago, leaving us with only two buses per hour.

'One bus per hour in the afternoon just when patients are having their appointments, is just not fair.'

She added that the 86, which travels from Tavistock and stops at Marjon University and Derriford Hospital before continuing to Royal Parade, Plymouth, is being re-routed so that it just travels along the A386, which she says is all right if you are a shopper but not if you are a patient or worker at Derriford, the Plymouth University Peninsula Medical School and anywhere else on the Tamar Science Park as they will be left without a proper service.

Mrs Austen, who has taken the matter up with West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, told the Times: 'If one of these 84s breaks down, or is overcrowded — as it now will be — and decides to pass the hospital, as it does on occasion in my experience, it is possible that commuters could wait up to nearly two hours at the hospital.

'It isn't going to be possible for old people with health problems, pregnant women, or patients visiting the new Eye Department (Royal Eye Infirmary) to walk the 15 to 20 minutes to the main road to pick up a bus.

'I personally finish work at 3pm, so will now have a 53-minute wait for a bus, and other commuters who have connections to Lydford will not make their connection and will have another hour wait at Tavistock.'

Another resident, Chris Evenett, said: 'I travel from Tavistock to Derriford Hospital daily and found out this information purely by chance from a friend who is a bus driver. This reduced bus service is unacceptable.'

Geoffrey Cox MP said the service cuts only became apparent when a bus driver had a conversation with Chris Evenett.

He said: "This is no way to go about cutting buses and will be extremely damaging for people.

'I have written to the chief executive and will try to persuade the company to think again.

'People may be ill or elderly and if they miss the bus they will have a long wait.'

First Bus was contacted but was not available for comment.