It is not possible to consult on all bus timetable changes, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer has said.

He was responding to a question in Tynwald last week from David Ashford (Douglas North), who wanted to know what public consultation had taken place before the latest changes took effect in May.

Departure times on a number of routes saw minor alterations. Mr Harmer said there was an ’extensive’ public consultation in 2012, as part of a full review, while there was also formal consultation with the Road Transport Licensing Committee each year.

He added: ’The timetable is updated each spring to include the seasonal services. This usually involves minor operational changes and, as such, it would not be appropriate, practical or cost effective to carry out a public consultation each time.

’Very few changes were made this year, with the exception of increasing the frequency of the bus service to the Business Park to every 30 minutes, as a result of changing services to and from Foxdale.’

He said the DoI kept a file of passenger comments and analysed ticket data to establish demand. ’There has been very little public reaction to the latest timetable changes, with only a handful of comments submitted,’ he added.

Mr Ashford dismissed Mr Harmer’s reply as a ’long way of saying’ no consultation had taken place.