WEST Devon MP John Burnett has welcomed the improved bus service from Princetown to Tavistock and Yelverton which began operating a fortnight ago.
Following a public meeting in Princetown on July 12, chaired by Mr Burnett, an improved timetable including an earlier work-time journey from Princetown to Tavistock has been introduced.
Mr Burnett said that he welcomed the revised timetable as Princetown was an isolated area which needed to be supported.
The moorland community had its bus services reduced after a review by Devon County Council in May showed Princetown-Tavistock/Yelverton buses were often used by only a handful of passengers.
Tim Davies, the council's head of the transport co-ordination service, said: 'We worked together with Plymouth City Bus who took over the service contract in May and a new timetable for the area was drawn up, meeting a number of the points raised at the public meeting.'
The new timetable provides a work-time run from Princetown to Tavistock, arriving at 8.15am and departing 5.45pm from Tavistock. An earlier journey to Yelverton, arriving at 9.35am to provide a link to Plymouth is also incorporated.
The county council acknowledged that it had not been possible for financial reasons to meet every request made at the public meeting, such as a peak time journey to Yelverton and a direct journey to Plymouth.
However, Mr Davies said there was an undertaking to look at the longer term travel needs at Princetown.
Sonia Burgess, West Devon rural transport partnership development officer, has met with Angela Williams of the Highmoorland Community Group to discuss the setting up of a local transport working group.