A BANDON-based Councillor on her way to celebrate the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival last Sunday almost didn’t make it after a ‘ghost bus’ threatened to scupper her travel plans.

Social Democrats Cllr Ann Bambury told a meeting of the local authority this week that she and her friends had intended to get a Bus Éireann bus from Bandon to Cork on Sunday at 12.15pm to enjoy the jazz festival - but the bus never showed up.

‘The West Cork Connect bus arrived on time but because it operates on a pre-booked basis, the driver was unable to accommodate any additional passengers.There were so many people around me who didn’t get to go where they need to go on Sunday. There were plenty of families with young children there going up to enjoy the jazz who then had to resort to getting into their cars and forced to drive to Cork,’ said Cllr Bambury.

She said it is difficult to comprehend that on a bank holiday Sunday the next scheduled Bus Éireann service wasn’t until 6pm.

She said the NTA (National Transport Authority) is meant to monitor punctuality and reliability of Bus Éireann routes.

‘I have had so many people come to me in recent days since I raised my issue online. If you’re living in Innishannon you are snookered as usually the bus from Bandon is full by the time it gets there and there are no seats.’

Cllr Bambury said people are being late for work, school and appointments and social events and many have no confidence in the service.

‘This is at a time when we are meant to be encouraging public transport and promoting active travel and it’s really disappointing that Bus Éireann are not living up to the standards that they are supposed to be.’

Cllr Bambury and her friends ended up using two cars to get them to Cork city in the end. She has called for accountability from both Bus Éireann and the NTA and indicated she will raise this issue at municipal level too.

County Mayor Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said it’s an issue county wide and they have the same issue in Midleton and Youghal.