Justine Toye, of Victoria Road, Dartmouth, writes:

I am writing to complain about the rerouting of the 93 and X81 bus routes.

I have been a resident of Victoria Road for the past 10 years. I do not drive and in that time I have frequently used the bus services to Totnes, Torquay and Kingsbridge.

I am not an elderly resident but knowing that I can get heavy shopping from other towns and be dropped nearly at my door has been an absolute godsend. I have a lower back injury that means I have enormous difficulty carrying heavy shopping from the town centre up to my house.

I do use online shopping services but at other times I would rather have an outing to a neighbouring town for the sake of choice and variety and to buy the items that I cannot find in Dartmouth.

I went to visit a friend in Torquay last week and caught the bus home. I was very surprised when the bus went down College Way and not Victoria Road.

I asked the bus driver why this was and he said that he had been told that the residents of Victoria Road had asked for the route to be changed because not only did they not like the buses going past their houses – as passengers were able to look in their windows – but that the buses caused traffic congestion and damage to the pavements.

I knew nothing about this complaint and no one that I have spoken to about it has ever been approached about problems concerning the bus service.

The article in the Chronicle said that the proposal had been reported about several times in the local paper.

I do not buy the Chronicle every week, so that is the only reason that I can think that I have missed seeing these reports.

It is a disproportionate reaction to reroute the buses because of an alleged concern regarding privacy. Passengers would at best get only a fleeting glance in any window and in all probability reflection would prevent any view into people's living rooms.

In fact many properties have either a net curtain or plastic window film fitted which would prevent any views into these rooms.

Regarding the traffic congestion and damage to the pavements, how is it that the route is still used by the town buses, large delivery lorries and one very early morning and mid afternoon X81 and 93?

When I have caught the 93 or X81 at Wilsdene the other people waiting there are often elderly; therefore my final point that there are eight bus stops in Victoria Road and none on College Way needs no expatiation.

I would urge you to make strenuous efforts to reinstate these bus routes for the good of the many residents who rely on these essential services for their quality of life.