From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, May 17, 2007

BUS service changes take effect on Tuesday 29 May as a result of First Devon Cornwall having surrendered a Devon and Somerset County Council contract.

Service 307 (Barnstaple - South Molton - Taunton) and Service 346 (Barnstaple - Tiverton) are to be replaced by a new pattern of services, comprising of a mix of County Council contracts and commercial ventures by bus companies.

First Devon Cornwall will run commercial Service 7 between Barnstaple and South Molton, including North Molton for North Devon College students. This will run half-hourly for most of the day.

Following a competitive tender, Stagecoach is building on a new Devon County Council contract to provide a new Service 155, with through buses running between Exeter, Tiverton, Witheridge, South Molton and, via the North Devon Link Road, Barnstaple.

By arrangement with Somerset and Devon County Councils, First Somerset Avon will run Service 25B between Bampton, Dulverton and Taunton.

There was only limited usage of previous services between South Molton and Bampton, and therefore this section will see a reduction in service. Stagecoach will run a once-a-day service from Barnstaple to Taunton and return, via South Molton and Bampton, under contract to Devon County Council.

Full details of the revised services are given in Devon County Council's area timetable booklets for Mid and North Devon, available by telephoning 0845 155 1004, e-mailing devonbus@devon.gov.uk or writing to the Transport Co-ordination Service, Devon County Council, Matford Offices, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QW.