Bus timetable boost for Golf Course Road
Increase in provision follows community feedback
Bus operator Stagecoach has revised certain timetables in the Blairgowrie area to improve journey opportunities.
The move will see an increase in the bus service provision for the Golf Course Road area of the town and has come about following a representation from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council to Perth and Kinross Council and Stagecoach.
The changes, which got under way earlier this month, incorporated revisions to service 58 and service 63.
Service 58, which operates between Blairgowrie, Guildtown and Perth, has seen minor revisions to the timetable. The 58B route variation via Golf Course Road is no longer used, with this area now served by revised service 63.
As a result, the 10.25am Perth to Blairgowrie weekday journey arrives in Blairgowrie four minutes earlier and the 1.25pm Blairgowrie to Perth weekday journey now departs at 1.30pm.
Service 63, the town service operating across Blairgowrie and Rattray, has been revised to serve Golf Course Road on three journeys per day, Monday to Saturday, at the request of Perth and Kinross Council and Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council.
This change will provide new local links for the area and replace the discontinued route 58B journeys and the timetable has been revised slightly as a result.
Douglas Robertson, commercial director for Stagecoach East Scotland, said: “The adjustments made to service 63 will provide new journey opportunities for Rosemount residents to reach various parts of the town, including the Ardblair Medical Centre, town shops and to the Wellmeadow for onward travel to Dundee, Perth and Dunkeld among other destinations.
“We welcome feedback from our customers and stakeholders and these journey revisions requested by Perth and Kinross Council are an example of successful partnership work to ensure we can operate the best possible network of service for the community.”
Pat McGregor from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council welcomed the move.
She said: “The idea for providing some sort of bus provision for Golf Course Road first came about from an initial approach to the community council by residents.
“We are therefore delighted to see this trial get underway after many months of discussions with both Stagecoach and Perth and Kinross Council, and are pleased that the bus operator and the council have taken on board suggestions made by the local community.
“However, now the service is in place we would urge people make use of it to ensure that there is enough demand to keep it running.”
Council officers say that the continued operation of the bus service via Golf Course Road will be determined by passenger usage, which will be carefully monitored.
Timetables for the revised routes are available to download at www.stagecoachbus.com.
Alternatively, customers can plan their journey on the website itself or by downloading the Stagecoach Bus app to their mobile device.