A COUNTY councillor has questioned the power of a partnership committee after its decision to re-route the Devon bike bus, because of local concerns, was declared void.

A vote was taken to re-route the Exbourne to Okehampton section of the award-winning bus at the December meeting of West Devon partnership committee. But members were told last week they could not override contract responsibilities of another authority — namely Devon County Council's executive committee.

Bill Cann accepted that, immediately after the vote was taken, officers stated nothing could be done until the contract ended at the end of the 2000 season. However, that did not mean the decision could not be implemented after that time he said.

In a letter to West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, county environment director Edward Chorlton said the partnership committee was not responsible for such services.

'I want to know why the issue was even before us in the first place and why local people's opinions do not count,' he said.

'We have all these discussions at various committees and forums and then we are told we cannot do anything about it — what is going on? Why are we here?

The issue of the bike bus came up following a petition submitted by residents in Exbourne who said the narrow B3217 road was 'totally unsuitable' for the bus and it posed a danger to other road users such as cyclists, horse riders and walkers. Mr Cann described the road as a 'cart track' and proposed it was re-routed to the B3215.

Partnership officer for West Devon Borough Council, John Smith, said the county council's executive committee needed to be made aware of local concerns and it would take those into consideration but it was clear the partnership did not have the power to make the decision to re-route the bus.

Robin Bevis from Devon County Council said re-routing the bus would add at least 18 minutes to a single trip which would put people off using the service and it would be detrimental to the timetable. It would also add costs due to increased driver hours and additional mileage.

No objections had been reported from other bus services using the route and changing the route would undermine the continuity of the first pilot year, making the benefits gained in the first summer season difficult to test, he said.

Councillor Frank Elliot called the row a 'storm in a teacup'.

'It will make no difference moving the bus from one B road to another,' he said.

It was agreed that figures should be produced by the executive committee to show the cost implications of re-routing the bus.