AN angry commuter has started a petition against plans to divert the number 15 bus away from Colchester North Station.

Ann Storey, 63, who lives in Shrub End, commutes to London each day where she works as a data co-ordinator at Royal London Hospital.

Her 12-hour day starts at 5.15am before catching the 6.23am bus on Shrub End Road to the station.

But from April 11, Essex County Council plans to re-route the current service creating a loop which passes through Stanway and Tollgate, finishing at Marks Tey Station.

Ann and other commuters have criticised the proposal and accused the council of carrying out a “flawed” consultation.

She said: “They are totally disregarding taxpayers who live in Colchester for people and jobs which don’t yet exist in Tollgate and Stanway.

“I found out about the council’s survey by accident when I visited the library a week before the closing date and none of the other passengers I handed copies of the proposed timetable to seemed to know anything about it.

“A consultation was held on July 15 during a weekday afternoon and we didn’t realise what it was about.

“There has been no opportunity in my mind for meaningful discussions where passengers’ suggestions or compromises could be voiced.

“In this part of town there are no other early bus services so we’re reliant on the 15. To walk to the 65 bus in Lexden would take 30 minutes which is the only other bus we could use, apart from the 11 which is nowhere near us.”

She added: “Marks Tey Station is in the middle of no man’s land. It’s unsuitable for many of the journeys we take going to London, Ipswich, Norwich or Clacton and there are no taxis outside for late journeys.”

Ann added she also suffers from the rheumatic condition fibromyalgia and sciatica meaning she sometimes struggles to walk.

Roger Hirst, Cabinet member for transport, planning and the environment, said the new route will benefit more residents due to the continued growth of Stanway.

He added both the 65 and 1/1A services allow passengers to change at Head Street in the town centre for direct buses to North Station.

He said: “Service 15 has been diverted to provide a better overall facility for more passengers and a more strategic link within the current and future bus network for Colchester.

“Essex County Council launched bus consultations in February and September last year which were extensively advertised across the bus network in local papers and on social media.

“As a result, we received around 3,000 responses which have helped shape our plans for the future of the bus network across Essex.

“We have taken all the feedback into account as we have made changes to improve the network.”

Ann hopes her petition will urge decision-makers to compromise with people who have used the service for more than ten years.

To get in touch, email Ann Storey at ann.storey@bartshealth.nhs.uk.