A petition has been set up demanding an improvement to the number 10 bus service in Swindon.

The service is run by Stagecoach and goes from Freshbrook through Swindon Town Centre to Kingsdown.

Borough councillor Sean Wilson begun calls for the bus company to make improvements, following numerous complaints from residents.

He explained: “There are lots of cancellations, so people are hanging around waiting for a bus and it doesn’t come. You then have to wait for an hour for the next one.

“The service is diabolical and because there are fewer buses, they are overcrowded at peak times which is dangerous given the current circulation of respiratory illnesses such as Covid.”

The situation is further compounded following Stagecoach’s decision to re-route the Number 10 bus which has resulted in residents who live along Freshbrook Way in Toothill being excluded.

This means elderly & disabled residents in sheltered housing now having to walk a considerable distance to access a bus.

The issue has also impacted college students, pupils who attend schools in the local area and people commuting to the town centre for work.

Cllr Wilson continued: “The bus service is poor and irregular for people who rely on the bus service to get to work or school.

“They are having to explain to their bosses why they are late.”

Being a regular bus user himself, Cllr Wilson knows just how bad the service is for his constituents.

Asked what he thought should happen, he said: “What I’d like to see is a discussion between residents and Stagecoach about the route.

“We need greater frequency and greater honesty about why the cancellations are happening.

“Like many bus users in West Swindon, I am exasperated by the poor service.

“People have things to do every day, but we are having to plan ahead, leave early to ensure we have enough time like for example when I attend council meetings.”

Repi Begum, the Labour candidate for Lydiard & Freshbrook, said: “The change in the bus route causes considerable difficulties for young families and vulnerable members of society, who now have to add further time to their journeys as they have to walk long distances to get to a bus stop.

“This isn’t always possible for some and so this pushes some to become isolated and removed from society as they are unable to get about.”

Heidi Alexander, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon added: “The quality of the No10 bus service is a real problem for people in Freshbrook and Toothill - users are frequently left waiting at bus stops wondering whether a bus is ever going to turn up or not.

"This is no way to run our public transport system. Experience in other towns and cities shows that when bus services are frequent, affordable, reliable and comfortable, people will use them.”

Several residents have commented on the petition about the number 10 bus service."

Resident Kayleigh Howe said: “I am sick of leaving my home earlier and earlier to get a bus to work or having to get a taxi as the buses I need to get are cancelled.

“They are more than happy to take the money off you though. Absolutely disgusting service.”

While Noris Kidle added: “This service fails to meet local passengers experience's routed away from Freshbrook Way Toothill, leaving the elderly.

“People getting to work, mothers with young children stranded, despite changes Stagecoach are failing on all fronts.”

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: "Changes were made to Service 10 in October 2022 following a review to better match customer demand.

"Service 10 continues to run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays.

"There were a small number of journey cancellations prior to Christmas due to staff sickness. However, we are pleased to say a full service is operating this week and we expect this to continue."