A BUS company is reviewing its routes into a city suburb after passengers reported being left stranded and missing connections.

Brighton and Hove Bus Company has blamed problems with buses serving Woodingdean on city centre roadworks and the geographical location of the largely residential area.

Geoff Wells, a Conservative for the Woodingdean ward of Brighton and Hove City Council, said people suffered from a bad service because some number 2 buses from Rottingdean were being driven back to Brighton via the seafront instead of going back through Woodingdean, leaving people stranded, leading to late appointments and missed connections.

He said: “It’s in a terrible state. It’s getting beyond a joke. It’s not good when they don’t return.”

As well as the number 2 bus, which travels from Steyning and Shoreham in the west to Woodingdean and Rottingdean in the east, the suburb is also served by the 22, which runs up to Brighton Station. Coun Wells said numerous complaints received for more than a year could be the “tip of the proverbial iceberg”.

The bus company now has a draft consultation on changes to routes but wants to speak with councillors and action group Brighton Area Buswatch before making them public.

Martin Harris, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said: “Buses have been adversely affected by short-term extensive roadworks but this is exacerbated by Woodingdean’s geographical location and by one of its routes being the longest.

“We are currently reviewing options for all Woodingdean services and will soon begin a process of consultation with the community to explore them further.”

Andrew Boag, of Buswatch, said it was encouraging that the company had acknowledged a problem with the 2 route but he wants the shorter 22 route to run more regularly.

He said: “I feel Woodingdean is not getting a very good service. If a bus is missing you have a 40-minute gap and that’s a long time to wait.”

The consultation will be made public in the next four to six weeks, with a period of about four weeks to provide feedback. A further round of consultation is set to follow in late spring.

It’s your voice How do you think the service should change? Email letters@theargus. co.uk, visit www.theargus.co.uk/ letters or write to us