The Transport Ministry has rejected claims that no consultations were held with local councils before the new bus route network was drawn up.

In a statement, the ministry explained that the routes were first drafted by Halcrow Group consultants in November 2008.

They were published in December 2008 during a national conference which marked the first phase of the consultation process. The conference was open to all, including the councils.

In April 2009 a meeting for the executive secretaries of the councils was held and they were handed electronic plans of the routes and the bus stops. They were asked to evaluate the proposals with their councils and give their views. (Just 23 executive secretaries attended this meeting out of 68 councils, but copies were also sent to the other councils.)

Meetings were then held with the councils which requested them, and most of their suggestions were taken on board.

The new version of the routes was published on the ministry's website  and further meetings were held with the councils, when requested by them. Changes were included before the bus service tender was published.

Government officials continued to hold meetings with the councils even after the tender was published and some changes were negotiated with Arriva before the service started, the ministry said.

The ministry said that while it was denying that there was lack of consultation, it recognised that some councils may not have appreciated the scale of the change which they were being consulted about and they were now reacting on the basis of people's complaints.

The ministry said it would continue to hear the people's views and consider whatever changes were necessary to further improve the service.