CRITICISMS about local bus services were aired at the December 11 Camelford Community Network Panel meeting.

John Burt, Cornwall Council’s programme manager for One Public Transport was in attendance to give the network panel an update on the focus and delivery of the programme.

He admitted that Cornwall has always faced challenges with public transport, and in 2015 the Cornwall One Public Transport system was launched through the devolution deal.

Among the progress made has been the introduction of 78 new buses added to the First Kernow and Plymouth Citybus fleet.

There has also been the creation of a travel companion app, which will show users their location, their nearest bus station, the bus routes and timetables available to them. This is expected to be launched in the new year.

There has also been a lot of branding of ‘Transport for Cornwall.’

Before taking questions from the floor, chair of the network panel, Claire Hewlett, said: “I don’t really know what to say to that. I’m not sure we’re feeling the love in North Cornwall.”

Camelford resident and former mayor of the town, Brian Lush, said: “I won’t bore you with all that’s wrong with the buses in the town. I have travelled on 15 buses a week for the last five years. The majority of people that catch the bus are school children and elderly people. Elderly people haven’t got all the gizmos, they rely on timetables. There are four different bus companies and they don’t liaise with each other, meaning people miss buses.

“Here the smaller bus, Travel Cornwall goes to Launceston. The Exeter bus goes 10 minutes before, which is a Stagecoach bus. There’s no way you can get back here, you have to go to Bude to get back to Camelford. There doesn’t seem to be anything joined up.”

Alan Burgis, Camelford town councillor, added: “I know at least 12 people that have contacted the bus company with complaints and never had a reply. In fact this year Camelford Town Council set up a transport working group. We, as a council, wrote to the bus company three times and we’ve also not had any reply.”

Veronica Stansfield from St Breward said: “It’s no good encouraging people to use the trains when they get to Bodmin Parkway and there’s nowhere to park. We all know there’s no trains around here; we’ve got to go to Bodmin Parkway. If you’re taking your car, you cannot guarantee to park in Bodmin Parkway station. There’s limited parking. Are there any long term plans to increase the parking at the station so we can use the trains?”

Also in attendance was Nigel Blackler, Cornwall Council service director for transport and infrastructure, who addressed this concern and admitted: “You’re right, there isn’t enough parking there.”

He explained that surveys have been carried out by Great Western Railway on how to increase parking in the short term and long term.

One short term option would be to bring the bus turning area up the station, which, he said, could be done relatively quickly.

Mr Blackler added: “Bodmin Parkway station is a very popular station. At the end of next year there will be 12 extra services on the main line every day between Penzance and Plymouth – more frequent service, more capacity. However to get access to many of our stations, they will need to park. Bodmin Parkway is pretty much at the top of the list. We want to actually get more people into the railway. We have short term plans and there needs to be some bigger improvements. We are working on that at the moment.”

Mr Blackler also addressed Mr Lush and said he made some good points about the bus services.

“Buses do not link up with one another. These are the very reasons we started this project. It’s taken a number of years and a lot of money but we are committed to addressing the issues Brian was talking about. The points made are valid ones and we’ve got a long way to go.”

He also said if someone writes to a bus company and doesn’t receive a response, they should write or email Cornwall Council and they will take it on on their behalf.

John Conway, clerk to Otterham Parish Council, said: “North Cornwall is a total wilderness for rail travel as we all know.”

He noted that people could drive to Bodmin, where they are faced with a one and a half hour journey to Exeter. He asked what the council was doing to support the prospect of getting a rail link in Okehampton.

“To get on a train in Okehampton to get into Exeter will be really useful for people this end of the county and further.”

Mr Blackler said: “We do support Okehampton and we are supporting Devon [County Council] in achieving that.”