Carousel Buses has blamed roadworks for issues with a new route following claims from disgruntled residents of Old Amersham that buses presented a ‘safety hazard’ for pedestrians and were ‘spoiling’ their high street.

The bus firm reintroduced the 41 service last year after the previous operator chose to cease the service.

The transport company said Prestwood residents asked if the route could be expanded to include Amersham.

The firm began using the revised route following discussions with Buckinghamshire Council.

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A Carousel spokesperson said: “Our on-going challenge is making the route viable and reliable and currently we use Amersham High Street as this is the quickest route to access the bus stops in Amersham old town that our passengers want to use.

“Unfortunately, we have been experiencing increasing challenges with the frequency and management of roadworks in Buckinghamshire, which creates a challenging environment to operate reliable bus services and so it is important that we safeguard running time to mitigate potential delays for passengers.”

Carousel said it was keen to engage with residents to help it develop and improve its services.

The company said a meeting it had with representatives from Amersham High Street, and the local town council was ‘constructive’.

The spokesperson added: “From this both sides gained insights into the issue, and we appreciate their position.

“We have committed to discuss the matter further with Buckinghamshire Council and to explore options to resolve the situation together.”