An MHK claims bus timetable changes have left residents in some areas cut off from essential public services.

Douglas Central MHK Ann Corlett told the House of Keys: ’In the constituency of Douglas Central there is a large residential area now that has no access by bus into the town centre, to the community health centre in Westmoreland Road or to the hospital.’

Bus Vannin introduced a revised timetable across the island on March 2.

But it was forced to make amendments even before it was brought in following concern about the replacement of more scheduled services in the north by dial-a-ride.

In the Keys, Mrs Corlett asked Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer what impact assessment and public consultation had been undertaken before bus routes had been changed. She told the Examiner: ’They have literally cut people off. If you live on Bray Hill, Somerset Road and Ballabrooie there are no buses at all in those areas.

’Government policy is get people on the buses - but there has to be a bus!’

Mr Harmer told MHKs that there had been a major review of the bus network in 2012, and since then, it has been checked each year against the change in travelling habits.

’There have been some changes this year to further reduce costs, and generate more income, by matching service provision with demand,’ he said.

The Minister said comments and suggestions from passengers were reviewed and a formal consultation undertaken by the Road Transport Licensing Committee.

Mrs Corlett suggested that heritage transport seemed to have a far higher priority for funding than public transport.

Mr Harmer said there was a good argument to say that ’journeys of desire’ and the visitor company do not naturally fit with a ’strategy of smarter movement, active travel and about getting more people on buses’.

He said public transport was a ’success story’ with a 3% increase in passengers last year, and increase of 16-20% over the last four or five years - in contrast to other jurisdictions where ’massive reductions’ have been seen.

Mrs Corlett said: ’Government policy is to encourage the use of public transport, but how does cutting bus routes fit with that?

’We give older people a free bus pass. To make use of a bus pass you do actually need a bus in the first place.’

Mr Harmer said there was an issue with buses running empty or are very little used.

He said he would shortly bring forward a new policy on smarter movement as part of addressing the climate emergency. He said: ’We will be specifying policy objectives for the key issues, such as frequency and connectivity.’