Passengers will be hit by changes to routes

BUS passengers will be hit by changes to services which it is claimed will see routes across the Falmouth and Penryn district dropped.

Changes are being implemented to the network which will see the withdrawal of buses between Helston, Longdowns, Mabe and Ponsanooth to Truro.

Also affected are buses between Perranwell and Falmouth and Penryn.

TravelWatch SouthWest have slammed the proposals which they say are a "dog's dinner".

However Cornwall Council, which commissions many of the services and operator First Devon and Cornwall denied the claims, insisting the changes are vital and not cutbacks.

The changes are due to start on May 3 as a result of a takeover of Truronian by First Group.

In a press statement, which outlines changes to a number of local services, the new operator, First Devon and Cornwall, says the decision was taken in full consultation with Cornwall Council, which contracts a number of routes, including the T3, to local companies.

The statement says: "Many of the services affected by these changes are operated by First under contract to Cornwall Council.

"As such all the changes were made in consultation with Cornwall Council. The majority of the changes focus on delivering improvements in punctuality and reliability for customers.

"The main commercial improvements being made are focused on the corridor between Falmouth and Truro, where the frequency of buses has been improved – now 15-minute frequency; it was every half hour."

Last year, the T3 service was the only one in Cornwall included in a list of Britain's best bus routes published in the Daily Express.

Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour's prospective candidate for Truro and Falmouth, said: "Reliable local bus services are very important, particularly for the over 60s and young people.

"I am concerned about the changes made to the 88 and 88b service between Falmouth/Penryn and Truro and the impact on people needing a service that stops at Perranwell or travelling to Treliske.

"People hoped that the merger of Truronian with First might improve local bus services, not lead to cut."

● See page 21 for more about route changes.