BUS PASSENGERS in Duffryn say changes to services in the area - which came into place Monday - are already causing chaos.

The changes came in to accommodate recent building developments in the Duffryn area, taking in Celtic Springs business park and the developments on Morgan Way, as Councillor Trevor Watkins told the Argus.

"There will be three bus routes instead of two," he said.

"The new routes will take into account Morgan Way and Celtic Springs."

But residents say the revamped services alienate elderly and disabled passengers and puts people at risk as they are now forced to cross parts of the estate on foot.

Jane Lalies, 47, said she worried about herself and family members having to cross the estate at night.

"When it is night and it's dark it can be very intimidating.

"My daughter got off the bus in Duffryn last night in the dark and I was scared for her.

"There are groups of youths that gather round drinking."

Creighton Smith, 73, a former aircraft engineer and now a trustee for Duffryn Link who struggles to get to certain bus stops.

"There are other people older than me and in worse physical condition and people who are disabled, and they have had this facility withdrawn from them."

Keith Bennett, 48, another Duffryn resident said the changes had left people confused: "It's terrible really. People do not know whether they are coming or going.

"I don't think it is going to last." he said.

Now Plaid Cymru AMs Mohammad Asghar and Jocelyn Davies have stepped in and written to Newport Transport to raise their concerns on behalf of Duffryn residents.

"A large number of them are elderly and have little access to other means of transport.

"How can we expect people to make more use of public transport if we are making the service user less friendly?" Jocelyn Davies said.

"We have asked for the reason for these changes and what sort of consultation exercise was carried out before they were put into effect."

Newport Transport were unavailable for comment.