A CREDITON man says he was furious after a Stagecoach bus failed to stop at the East Street bus stop in Crediton and pick him up.

The incident happened on Sunday, January 17 and David wrote the following about the incident:

“Today the 14:42, 5 service, Crediton to Exeter failed to stop and pick me up at the East Street bus stop, Crediton.

“I arrived in good time and held out my arm to indicate for it to stop but it continued past me without slowing, the driver had seen me.

“One of the workmen on the road, which had temporary traffic lights in place, came over and was advising it didn’t stop because the bus stop was between the traffic lights. There was no notice on the bus stop to indicate the bus would not be stopping there.

“However this stop has a pull in, off the flow of the public highway, enabling buses to not be a problem to the flow of traffic. Although one of the road worker’s vans was parked on the bus stop when I arrived it had moved before the bus came.

“There was no reason for the bus not to stop and pick me up. On a normal work day morning when cars are parked in the bus stop, the bus drivers have no problem in stopping and holding up the flow of the traffic to allow people to board.

“Considering the lack of traffic this afternoon and the availability of the pull-in I am left disgusted by the driver not stopping.

“If the contractors were aware that, with their traffic lights in place, the bus would not stop, not one of the many people on site came over to advise me. Equally they put no notice on the bus stop to advise the stop was out of action, though, I wonder, if I would have had time to walk down to Exeter Road which is the next stop before the bus arrived, I’m fit and walk quickly.

“I called Stagecoach immediately because I was furious and although there was an attempt to contact the driver and there was an apology, my details were not taken.

“For those of us that rely on public transport, to not have a bus stop is more than irritating.

“My plan had been a relaxing drink in a local Garden Centre cafe, followed by browsing for the required garden items, catching the next bus in 30 minutes would not have allowed enough time, it being a Sunday afternoon, so the venture was abandoned and the afternoon somewhat wasted.”

Mr Cann sent details to local, district and county councillors and there has been debate about the complaint.

Councillor John Hart, leader, Devon County Council, told the “Courier” that he has asked Devon Transport to look into the issue and apologised that the bus did not stop.

He said: “We really need to know why it did not stop, and if the reason given is that they could not because of roadworks, why was there not some warning at the usual bus stop.”

Alan Quick