The man in charge of Medway’s transport network has demanded an urgent meeting with bus firm Arriva after revealing he was not consulted about the revised timetable which has sparked fury among passengers.

Cllr Phil Filmer also maintained that the bus operator, which runs the majority of routes across the Towns, had not discussed new routes and the withdrawal of buses with the council’s transport officers before it went ahead.

Cllr Filmer is planning to raise mounting issues from customers, including those who rely on buses in his own ward on the Hoo Peninsula.

He said: “I’m sure it is about viability of services but if we had the chance to discuss proposals beforehand we could have looked at amending routes and possibly subsidies.

“I knew about the changes the same time as customers found out. The lack of consultation was frankly diabolical.

“The officers have told me they knew about the amendments after it had already been decided and that’s not what I call consultation.”

His concerns comes after petitions containing about 800 signatures were handed in to before the full council meeting from protesters in Walderslade and Rainham areas.

Cllr Mike O’Brien, who represents Rainham Central, said he had received numerous complaints from elderly residents about the 116 service being scrapped.

“The 116, which used to run three times an hour and serve Medway Maritime Hospital, has now been replaced by the circular loop route which runs twice an hour. While some are happy, especially if you live in the Luton area. People in my area are not.

“There have been some revised changes since it was introduced and hopefully there will be some more in the future.”

Cllr O’Brien added that the new schedule, which started on July 12, was unreliable and people were angry that they had missed hospital appointments.

Cllr David Brake, who is in charge of adult services, handed in two petitions with a total of more than 600 signatures, including all the residents of Sindal Shaw House, a sheltered housing scheme in King George Road, Walderslade.

Cllr Brake has already met Arriva representatives and won a reprieve to re-route the 179 services and, from September 7, the 176 service along a stretch between Walderslade Road and the Poachers Pocket pub is to be reinstated.

He said: “They feel isolated and upset that they have lost their little bit of independence.”

He said Arriva had not asked those who use the buses. “It’s appalling that they have waltzed in, walked away and then expect people are just going to accept the changes,” he added.

Arriva did not respond to requests for a comment.