A COUNTY resident says Herefordshire Council does not care about people without internet access after it ceased publishing its comprehensive bus timetable booklet.

The council recently decided to stop publishing because they say the transport information booklet is not good value for taxpayers’ money.

Bus users are now expected to plan their journey by checking routes on the website, social media or printed publicity in timetable display cases across the county.

But Bartestree resident Barry Watson says many residents, who do not own smartphones or are without internet access, are being left behind by the change.

He said: “If you are poor, elderly, or someone who does not have access to a laptop or smartphone, what are you supposed to do?

“What do we do when we want to know how to get from Hereford to Ross to Gloucester or anywhere else around the county, into it or out of it. Ring Traveline was one suggestion, but there is a cost for this and why should we have to do this when it is so easy and not that expensive to print the annual timetables.

“There are many people in this county who rely on having the printed version of bus times.

“Now you can’t plan your journey from home without the internet. The council couldn’t give a monkey’s”

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said an officer decided to cease the booklet’s publication following a member briefing - there was no public consultation prior to this.

“Following careful consideration, Herefordshire Council has taken the decision to cease publishing the comprehensive Herefordshire bus timetable book,” he said.

“We would like to thank our loyal customers throughout the county and apologise for any inconvenience. The authority will continue to provide bus timetables and information through various channels, including online and social media, as well as via both printed and electronic displays in cases across the county.

“This decision has been made to ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources and value for money for Herefordshire taxpayers. We would like to reassure our service users that this decision will in no way affect the quality of bus service provision.”