A ROAD which has been deemed ‘not suitable’ for buses because of its poor condition has halted plans for a bus route to serve Badbury Park.

The Number 12 Thamesdown Transport service was meant to provide a loop service through the new development as part of new changes to its route to the Great Western Hospital.

But, just as it was meant to come into force on Monday, Thamesdown had to tell residents they were unable to stick to their word after being told the road wasn’t in ‘good enough condition’.

Malcolm Archer, 63 who bought a house on the estate last year, said he was rather annoyed by the short notice from Persimmon Homes Wessex and Redrow Homes.

He added: “All I’ve heard is that it is not of a standard that a bus can use but what about cars? I was surprised last year when Thamesdown said their Number 12 service was going to come into Badbury Park because it was great news.

"But as the weeks went by, I started to notice that the developers hadn’t done anything like put up bus stops, even though the service was meant to start on Monday.

“The road is in a bad state and you wouldn’t be able to get a bus down there with all of the lorries lined up along the road.

"I don’t blame Thamesdown at all, I blame the developers for not explaining to the bus company that the work wouldn’t be done on time.”

The new route would have saved residents a 10 minute walk to GWH to catch the bus but Persimmon say the work could take until the end of March to be completed. In the meantime Service 12 will operate between Lawn and the Great Western Hospital via Marlborough Road arriving at the hospital a few minutes earlier than timetabled.

Peter Oliver, commercial director for Thamesdown, apologised residents for the inconvenience caused.

He added: “Due to the present road surface at Badbury Park, the developers have requested that we delay the introduction of the bus service through the new development as planned, despite the road being open to large vehicles.

"As these are roads not yet adopted by Swindon Borough Council we have to respect the wishes of the landowners, and so we hope that Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes will bring the road up to their required standards as soon as possible to enable residents to benefit from a more convenient bus service.

“As soon as we receive the go-ahead to use the road, we will run buses through Badbury Park, however in the meantime residents can still catch their buses from the entrance to the development on Queen's Drive.”