UPDATED 2.30PM: Changes to a bus service have angered residents in a Stanground street with almost 300 signing a petitiong.
The route for the number 31 service from the centre of Peterborough to Whittlesey changed today (Monday) not to include Oakdale Avenue.
The service, run by Stagecoach, will now go down Whittlesey Road instead.
Irene Walsh, Peterborough City Councillor for Stanground South, handed in a petition with 269 signatures was collected last week.
She said: “There is a lot of strong feeling and residents feel that the decision was unjustified and that Stagecoach didn’t consider their needs.
“This is a commercial route and I believe the company made the decision on commercial grounds.
“I do think they could have communicated better with residents.”
The petition was handed in to the city council this afternoon and it is hoped talks can be set up with Stagecoach and the council.
The change of route means there are now two services which run down Whittlesey Road through Stanground.
Cllr Walsh has suggested the number eight bus, which goes to the Cardea development, is diverted along Oakdale Avenue.
She said: “It would benefit everyone. The residents would have a bus service and businesses in Cardea would get shoppers.”
A spokeswoman for Peterborough City Council said: “Stagecoach owns the route and it is a commercial service, therefore it can change the route when it likes.
“The council is going to raise this as a concern but there isn’t much we can do because it is not our service.”
Stagecoach has not yet commented on the changes
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