Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
U-turn on bus just the ticket
206 service in Shawhead continues
Coatbridge councillors have echoed a community’s we l c o m e for the reinstatement of a local bus service.
The Advertiser told last month how McGill’s reversed their decision to stop the 206 route in Shawhead, which had been deemed not economically viable, agreeing to run the service on a temporary basis until a long-term replacement is found.
Michael McPake – who is a member of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport – became involved after being alerted to the issue by Coatbridge South councillor Gordon Encinias, his Labour colleague.
Representatives from both parties in the affected ward joined with local residents in their successful calls for the reinstatement of the route.
Councillor McPake, who is North Lanarkshire’s infrastructure convener, told the Advertiser: “The service is vital for a lot of people in the Shawhead area, especially those such as elderly people who can’t manage out to the main road for buses from there.
“Gordon Encinias alerted me to the issue, as I’m on SPT, and I said that I’d speak to them and McGill’s as a lastditch attempt to prevent the services stopping and help the local members get the outcome they required, that protected the service.
“Now it’s back in place with just a change to the timetable over lunchtime; and hopefully pefully the route will then continue nue after this temporary period, and that it will be resolved and continue to be viable.
“It was joined- up and crossparty working, as things should be; the priority is working together for constituents.”
A McGill’s spokesperson previously told the theAdvertiser: Advertiser: “We’re “We’redelighted delighted to inform our customers their 206 service in Shawhead will remain operated by McGill’s, on behalf of SPT.
“The timetable has been adjusted slightly, so please check our website or grab your new timetable on bus.”
The timetable has been adjusted so please check the website