More council control of Cornish buses to be considered

Cornwall Council has said it will look into how it could take more control over local bus services in future.

The authority said it would be doing more research into potential models for operating buses - including a greater say over timetables and routes.  It currently spends more than £12m a year to subsidise about half of all services - but private company Go Cornwall operates the routes.

The announcement came as villagers complained services for people living in rural areas of Cornwall are too infrequent and unreliable.

Diana Miller, 84, from Upton Cross, near Callington, said she now relied on the 78 and 78A bus services through her village after hurting her shoulder and being unable to drive.  "The bus service here is absolutely appalling. They're virtually every two hours and it sometimes just leaves you stranded. We've had to get cabs back from Launceston and it's cost us £30," she said.

She said she had missed medical appointments because the bus had been late - and it left both old and young people isolated.  "The last bus back from Liskeard in the afternoon is at 4.30pm, so the young people have to rely on their parents - hopefully they can pick them up.  "I can't go out in the evening because there's no bus. I don't understand why the Cornish have put up with bad rural services," she added.

Go Cornwall, which operate the services, said roadworks in the area were to blame for current unreliability.

(BBC article continues)