Changes are due to be made to the northern dial-a-ride service that will mean that times and areas will be published in advance for some journeys.

The Department of Infrastructure said the change would mean that passengers will be able to plan their journeys at ’short or long notice’.

It comes after many complaints from bus passengers.

A DoI spokesman told the Examiner: ’As a result of discussions with local MHKs and other representatives of the travelling public, we hope soon to be announcing changes that will see some of the ConnectVillages journeys operate at times and in areas that are published in advance so that passengers will be able to plan their journeys at short or long notice.’

Ramsey commissioner Juan McGuinness had written to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer and political member Jason Moorhouse MHK suggesting it would be beneficial to have the same roadshow style meeting take place in Ramsey as Bus Vannin attended in Jurby.

With winter on its way he has a ’genuine concern that if the service continues as is it will negatively impact the elderly and vulnerable people of the town the most’.

He added: ’Since the service has been introduced I’ve received a consistent level of comments and complaints from residents in Ramsey who used to make use of the buses which connected the various estates on the outskirts of town with the centre of Ramsey and the Ramsey Group Practice and Cottage Hospital.

’The service is fine if you are able to book the bus 24 hours in advance but any ad hoc trips or appointments become much more difficult.’

While they can get a bus to the doctors, they don’t know when they will be ready to be picked up, meaning they can be left with a time frame of up to two hours.

Mr McGuinness said Mr Moorhouse had ’confirmed that Bus Vannin is currently looking very closely at this service, and that there is no set date for an announcement, but active discussions are taking place’.

He added: ’Residents of Ramsey would much prefer a return to the popular OT/CL routes or indeed the old skipper bus service. How viable that is and what options could be offered as alternatives is unknown. The ideal way to have that discussion would be for Bus Vannin and the DoI to open up that communication with the residents who are using the new service.’