I have raised the issue of unreliable bus services in the area with the County Council. Issues include: unpunctuality (even on Sundays when congestion cannot be blamed), infrequency and timetable bunching – where services are set within five or so minutes of each other as bus companies try to take each others’ business.

The privatisation of bus services by the Conservative Government was a terrible mistake. Bus ridership is rising nationally but only because the increase in ridership in London – which escaped privatisation – outweighs the decrease in the rest of the country. Interestingly, the proposals for the Abbey Line involve the county council being the rail operator rather than a private company. Personally I would like to see the principle extended and buses transferred back to county council control.

In the meantime, however, we are stuck with private operators where the county council can only use influence and subsidy. I am told that the council is keen to ensure that the intervals on main routes are limited to 15 minutes – so that people can arrive at a bus stop without worrying too much about the details of the timetable (not that timetables have much bearing on bus arrival in my experience).

There will also be real time information systems and in some cases improved bus stops.

All this is welcome but it is still a long way from what the service needs to be – something that everyone uses, not just those without access to cars.