BUS USERS claim confusion reigns in parts of Bournemouth hard hit by changes to services – despite extensive publicity by Yellow Buses and the council.

Pensioner Helen Do, of Ripon Road, who relied on the old number 20 route to take her to Winton for her shopping, claims people are still queuing for the bus, more than a week after changes to the service began. But Yellow Buses hit back explaining how it has taken extensive measures to publicise the changes from as early as the end of May, including signs at stops, leaflets and new timetable books. Bournemouth Council admitted it would take customers time to get used to some of the changes, but explained how it placed signs at stops, which are no longer served to avoid confusion.

Mrs Do, 70, said: “It’s just a nightmare. I relied on the bus to take me to the library, bank, Post Office and other shops in Winton. To do the same journey now is more awkward and takes much longer. I have to change and there are fewer services. The other day I had to use a taxi.

“I’m clearly not the only one struggling. I’ve seen queues of people waiting at stops which the bus doesn’t go to anymore.”

Yellow Buses Head of Marketing Jenni Wilkinson, said: “Great emphasis is placed on publicising route changes.

“In the specific case of route 20 this included a press release issued by Yellow Buses and published in the Echo, individual notices on affected bus stops, printed leaflets and timetable books, which were available from June 13, as well as detailed information on the Yellow Buses’ website.” Bournemouth Council’s Public Transport Officer Richard Barnes, said: “The Council works closely with Yellow Buses to help manage any changes to services in a bid to avoid confusion for the public.

“Bus timetable changes can be difficult to understand and we always try to find several different ways of bringing the information to the attention of bus users in as simple a way as possible.”

Councillor Sue Anderson, who represents Moorgate, said she was extremely sympathetic to elderly people in the local community caught up in the service changes.

“There are very few buses that go through Moordown,” she said.

“It’s very difficult for elderly and disabled people and in that area there are quite a lot who need to use those buses.”