A bus that "never arrives" has become the focal point of frustration for elderly and vulnerable residents in Bedmond.
The Arriva-run service, from Hemel Hempstead to Maple Cross, is due to arrive in the village high street every half an hour.
But passengers are often left waiting for hours at a time, meaning they frequently miss appointments in Watford or must set off extremely early to guarantee they will reach their destination.
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Margaret Higgs, of Chapel Way, Bedmond, is one of several people who have complained about the service. She catches a bus three times a week and said it was a frustrating situation.
She said: "If you live between Leverstock Green and Abbots Langley, there's only one bus service. It's so irregular. I don't know why.
"It's quite frustrating and I've complained several times. I can understand being late from Watford. It's very congested but coming from Hemel, I cannot understand it. There are no hold-ups."
Margaret, 73, who works at Arden House nursing home in Upper Highway, Abbots Langley, added: "There's lots of us who just stand there until it comes. There's no point following the timetables. It really is frustrating and I'm not the only one."
Abbots Langley Parish Councillor Geoff Emery, who represents Bedmond, said: "The situation has been going on for quite some time and now it's come to a head. It should be half an hour but often it isn't. Sometimes it's an hour late, sometimes it doesn't come at all.
"People going to the hospital or Hemel Hempstead Hospital miss appointments or are obliged to use a taxi, which is very expensive.
Despite speaking with Three Rivers District Council and Hertfordshire County Council, no remedy appears to be on the horizon. Councillor Emery is now planning to take his complaint and others to the Transport Commission, which controls bus franchises across the country.
He said: "I cannot do it locally because a local councillor cannot put any pressure on.
"Arriva doesn't arrive. I want something done about it. We've got people waiting around at bus stops for hours on end. It just won't do. A lot of people are elderly so they cannot drive. I'm just trying to get something done."
Three Rivers District Councillor Joy Mann also sympathises with residents who struggle with the bus service and said one couple walked from Harthall Lane to Sainsbury's when another Arriva service failed to pick them up.
She said: "I think the disgrace is elderly people who are in a position where they can no longer drive and depend upon buses and the bus doesn't come."
Arriva representative Brian Drury said the Maple Cross to Hemel Hempstead route was a "key service" that would be receiving investment for new buses later this year.
He said: "At the end of the day, we're running buses on infrastructure used by everyone else. If there are problems with illegal parking or congestion, buses cannot suddenly magic their way through without being delayed.
"What we need to do, and what we want to do, is meet with the local authority to see what problems cause delays and how we can overcome them. "
U lost your swear button whilst you/pc was in storage Kombat? you must be having difficulties getting out of your camouflage, I'm having trouble recognising you.....you've been got at m8?
Do you know what happened to alcopop? I know the government wants to get rid, he must have been got at as well.....all very disturbing my friend!!!
U lost your swear button whilst you/pc was in storage Kombat? you must be having difficulties getting out of your camouflage, I'm having trouble recognising you.....you've been got at m8?
Do you know what happened to alcopop? I know the government wants to get rid, he must have been got at as well.....all very disturbing my friend!!!
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