Frustrated residents claim their public transport is unsuitable as more housing developments are approved.

Arriva’s 133 service to Chatham is the only bus which regularly serves the growing population of Cliffe Woods and Cliffe with one coming around every hour.

However, those living in the two villages say stops are often missed with buses being diverted or running significantly behind schedule.

Teresa Carlow has started a petition calling for a more regular and reliable service for the area, particularly as it is the only public transport option.

She started it after her son kept being late or had to find alternative travel as the bus was often not showing up to get him to his Saturday job in Strood - around 3.5 miles away.

Teresa, of Hilton Road, Cliffe Woods, said: “He wants his independence. If he wants to go out, he does not know when the bus will turn up if it does at all.

“We are just fed up with it. We need something more reliable and regular.

“They need to make sure the buses are on time if we are sending our children out there to use them. It is worrying enough as it is.”

Ray Styles, of Brookmead Road, Cliffe Woods, agreed. The 71-year-old added: “I do have to be on the driver’s side some of the time with the amount of road works and diversions there can be.

“However, it is abysmal. The service we have at the moment is grim.

“We are forgotten about here. We are forced to use our cars because the buses are not reliable.”

In emails seen by KentOnline, Arriva told Teresa some of the issues were caused by “operational difficulties at the depot” such as not having a vehicle to run the route and driver shortages.

A spokesperson for Arriva South said the firm has “made a number of timetable changes and improvements since” the issues were raised.

They added: “We are always open to listening to customer feedback and any change we may make in the future will be based on a number of factors, such as passenger data.”

However, residents fear the problems will only become more apparent once the housing developments planned for the area are completed.

Hundreds of new homes are already being built but Teresa says the services, such as public transport, are not in place to meet the new pressures.

She added: “New homes are being built but the bus service is not growing with it. One bus an hour is not and will not be good enough.

“It is getting ridiculous. There are not enough facilities, it is futile.”

Ellie - who did not wish to give her surname - does not drive so has to rely on the bus service to get to and from her job at Chatham Dockside.

The 26-year-old said: “It is a limited service and if you do not drive how are you supposed to leave the village? We may as well not have public transport.

“They are building these new houses but we have still only got one bus service.”

Fellow Cliffe resident Julz - who also did not wish to give her surname - said her husband has started car sharing to get Strood due to the issues with the buses.

The 48-year-old added: “It is ridiculous. There are so many new houses in Cliffe Woods that we are going to struggle.”