The use of double-decker buses on narrow country roads has been blasted as “absurd” by Helston’s councillors, prompting the suggestion of a council funded bus route. 

The town council was discussing the findings of a transport meeting between representatives of the town council and Cornwall Council members and officers, at which bus use was among the topics raised.

Reporting back, Councillor Nicola Boase said they had been told bus companies needed to use the large buses for school drop off and pick up. It would not be worth them leaving these buses somewhere unused for the majority of the day, in order to use smaller ones during school hours.

However, Councillor John Martin questioned just how well these buses were used, saying: “I’ve had several friends and colleagues record, if possible, the number of people they saw on such a bus. The average bus, double decker or single, had 2.2 customers.

“Sometimes on the school run they only had 12 or 15 students on the bus. They might fill up when it gets to school, but the use of big buses on country roads is absurd.”

At the earlier transport meeting mayor Mike Thomas suggested that the solution would be for the town council to agree a commercial deal with the bus company, in the same way as Truro City Council, which pays an amount to have a say in the route operated.

On Thursday he asked that if members of the public had any ideas about how this could be developed, could they contact the town clerk Chris Dawson.