THE secretary of the Colchester Bus Users Support Group claims the lacklustre information on bus route changes is a nightmare for users.

Changes came into effect throughout the Colchester area on April 11 and Essex County Council did publicise the changes.

However, Peter Kay, from Wivenhoe, feels he has been doing Essex County Council’s job for them by distributing information to bus users who have been left in the dark.

He said: “I put up notices by all the town centre stops but if it wasn’t for me doing that there would be no information at all.

“If you went to travel on the new routes you would have to wait at all the stops and see which ones had the new routes on them.

“They did put a message up on the television screen at the bus station but that is dependent on people looking at it.”

He feels there is complete confusion about certain services – such as the North Station commuter service, number 11 – while he says other routes’ schedules are far too tight.

Mr Kay said: “We still do not know exactly where the number 11 is going.

“I am probably in the best position of anyone in Colchester but for the average person, it is difficult to know what is going on.

“They have not produced any leaflets for anyone at all.”

While Mr Kay says the issues do not affect all of Colchester’s bus routes, he feels communication on the changes between Essex County Council, bus operators and the public has been severely lacking.

An ECC spokesperson said: “The proposed service changes have been widely communicated since last year’s consultation, including notices on buses, in libraries, council offices and through local newspaper adverts, including The Daily Gazette, as well as online and in press announcements.

“We also held public meetings in the town and liaised closely with Colchester Bus Users Group.

“We advise people to check online prior to their journey.”

Full details on the changes are available at www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk.