A Haslemere mother has hit out at Stagecoach after a number of cancellations which have affected her daughter’s journey to school.

Hazel Nicolson’s daughter Libby Braidwood regularly catches the number 70 bus to school at Midhurst Rother College. However, the number 70 service has been cancelled a number of times since the start of the new academic year in September.

Hazel, who lives with Libby in Puckshott Way, said: “My daughter is in Year 9 at Midhurst Rother College, and for the first year there were no real problems with the buses.

“We had some problems in May and June with some buses being cancelled, but since September it’s been terrible. When the bus hasn’t shown up, I’ve had to drive my daughter to Midhurst, but I can’t afford to keep driving her to school while paying for a bus ticket she can’t use.

“I’m paying for a bus ticket and petrol, and being late for work. I’m now having to send my daughter on the later bus, which means she misses the start of school. I’ve told the school and they have been very understanding, but I worry they might not be if this situation continues.

“I pay for a weekly bus ticket and I’ve sent emails to Stagecoach asking for my money back. Stagecoach won’t give me a refund as the number 70 isn’t a specific school bus service and they say my daughter can get another bus. She can, but it means she is late for school. The cancellations are at such short notice. Stagecoach say it is because of staff sickness.

“West Sussex county councillor Tom Richardson has emailed Stagecoach asking for an update, and he will let me know when he gets a response. Hopefully he can get some answers from Stagecoach, as this is a real problem.

“The cancellations started to become a problem in May and June when some children were doing their GCSEs, so it was an added stress they didn’t need.”

Timothy Weekes’ son Josh, who catches the number 70 from opposite the Mill to Midhurst Rother College, and his daughter Ella – who caught the same bus last term but now catches either the 71 from Lower Hanger or the 70 from the Mill to Godalming College – have also suffered numerous cancellations.

Timothy contacted Stagecoach, but the company said it was not liable for any losses, damages, cost or inconvenience he suffered as a result of cancelled, delayed, diverted or terminated services.

Timothy said: “It’s becoming very frustrating and more frequent. During my daughter’s exams we had to delay going to work to drive them to school because of the regular cancellations – which put more pressure on my daughter. It’s not acceptable that we do not get compensation when buses are cancelled on a regular basis.”

Haslemere Active Travel Group has called for improved bus services to encourage more sustainable travel in the town.

Its chairman Alastair Bayliss said: “Bus services need to be a real option for people instead of cars. Regular cancellations won’t encourage bus use, but if people knew they had regular buses from near their homes they would use them and support the bus service.

“Wey Hill is already gridlocked most of the time as it is, so no one is saying they want more cars on the roads.

“The population is set to grow in Haslemere with the new housing developments, so traffic will increase, not decrease. However, some of the new developments in the town have not got any bus provision, which is a real concern.”

Stagecoach has been approached for a comment.