Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer has insisted ’engagement’ with bus passengers about a new dial-a-ride service.

But he was criticised for the lack of information for people in Ramsey.

Mr Harmer came under fire for the Department of Infrastructure’s handling of the introduction of new services for the Ramsey estates, along with other demand-led services in the north.

He gave an assurance that regular buses serving the Ramsey estates would run at the same time until the new service had become established.

But passengers are angry that the changes start to take effect in just over a week and they have not had proper information.

Ramsey’s two MHKs, Lawrie Hooper and Alex Allinson, said residents were concerned about the proposed changes to the in-town services, saying they feared a loss of independence and they could face difficulty accessing many of the town’s facilities, including medical care,

In the House of Keys Mr Hooper demanded a statement from Mr Harmer. He said there had been no publicity on the changes so far and, with the new service due to start from April 8, questioned whether there was enough time to ’properly engage’ the public.

The minister told the House of Keys that ’ahead of any changes’ there would be roadshows and door-to-door information drops to ’ensure the public are aware of the changes’.

Mr Harmer said: ’Customer engagement is absolutely critical and there will be roadshows that will be advertised next week.’

He said that the transition period, where timetabled services would continue to operate alongside, would run for as long as it took to bed-in the demand-responsive service. Consultation would continue.

The minister said his department had been ordered to reduce public transport costs by £1 million over the next three years.

’Clearly I would like to make this saving as a result of commercial successes and operational efficiencies, not as a result of cost-cutting,’ he said.

The ConnectVillages dial-a-ride scheme was launched in December as an on-demand minibus service linking Andreas, Bride and Maughold with Ramsey.

The service has no dedicated timetable or route and customers can be collected from their home and dropped off at their destination, with other passengers taking advantage of the route.

Mr Harmer said that had seen a 19% growth in passengers over the previous fixed service and a ’substantial reduction’ in operating costs.

Bus Vannin has since applied to the Road Transport Licensing Committee to extend on-demand services to Jurby and also Ramsey’s estates Claughbane, Lezayre, Ormly and Thornhill from April 8.

The minister said analysis had shown that use of the current timetabled service for those estates was low.

Passengers will be expected book by 4pm the day before travel, although the service would aim to be flexible for people ringing up on the day.

He added: ’Customers may have to be flexible about times and routes. Our experience on the Bride and Andreas routes was that passengers very quickly got used to the new service and valued the improvement.’