Mum says buses drive straight past

Julie Ayling used to take her seven-month-old baby to work via the 2A from Willingdon Triangle.

This service now runs from Seven Sisters which Julie says is a much longer walk.

And she says new buses which have self-lowering floors are not used on this route.

This means when she has her baby in a buggy the buses sail straight past her.

Her case has been taken up by local councillor Stephen Shing. He said: 'I feel very sorry for Julie and for all the other residents let down by the local bus service.

'Julie has become very disillusioned with the lack of service.

'On one occasion a catalogue of errors, with buses not turning up or refusing to take her, meant she arrived an hour late for work.

'Once she was so fed up she actually paid for a taxi '“ something she just can't afford to do on a regular basis.

'She is fully justified in asking how people are expected to use public transport when things are made so very difficult for us.'

Eastbourne buses director Roger Bowker said: 'We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused to Ms Ayling and can assure her that we strive to provide the best service that we can for the community of Eastbourne even in sometimes adverse conditions.'

He added: 'Last year we invested 1.1 million in new buses and we plan to continue this programme of investment to the benefit of the local community.

'As part of these plans we hope that in the long term, low floor easy access buses will be available on all routes providing the best possible bus service for the people of Eastbourne.'