RESIDENTS of an Ardrossan street have been forced to walk long distances and fork out for taxis after roadworks forced two local bus routes to be diverted.

But the company operating the services claims that by the time they were made aware of the works, it was too late to notify passengers.

Stanley Road is closed between Gartland Drive and Millglen Road and Gartland Drive and Dalry Road between Monday, April 9 and Friday, April 13 to allow for service connection and speed table construction works. As a result, Stagecoach have had to change their number 11 and 12 service routes apparently at short notice.

A disabled pensioner told the Herald that elderly people were left standing atthe bus stops along Stanley Road because they didn’t know about the diversions.

The 73-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s a fiasco. They’re all standing about and they don’t know what’s happening, they haven’t got a clue. There was no notice to our knowledge.

“Because of our age we can’t just go into our mobiles and check if the bus is coming or not. The people knew nothing about it. The public has been inconvenienced. I’ve got to get off at Dalry Road or Beggs Road. It’s a long walk for people who have got poor mobility or are elderly. “It cost my husband and I £3.30 each to get taxis.

“It’s the very fact that no one was notified.

“My elderly neighbour’s 86. She had to walk from Centenary Place yesterday and it’s some distance.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “We received very late notice of the closure of an area of Stanley Road from North Ayrshire Council with no advance consultation, by which time a closure order had been granted to the contractor.

"As a result of this and to minimise the disruption to bus users we have been operating a shuttle bus, at our own cost and with no contribution from either the council or the contractor to from 7am-7pm on a continual loop to ensure as many passengers as possible can connect to our services, including the 11 service.

“The shuttle bus starts from Glasgow Street and is serving streets including St Andrews Road, Clyde Terrace, Mill Glen Road and Centenary Place.

“When planning works we would call on the council to ensure that the needs of public transport users is taken into account on all occasions and consultation with key partners, such as the bus operating companies, takes place in advance of the granting of Temporary Road Closure and Restriction notices.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We were approached at short notice to put in place the road closure at Stanley Road in order to allow public utility connections and speed bump installation relating to the nearby housing development by Ashleigh Construction.

“We apologise if anyone has been inconvenienced by the temporary road closure and will continue to liaise with appropriate partners to give sufficient warning of any closure affecting their services.”