‘Think again’on Stirling to St Andrews service
Bus company Stagecoach have again been urged to reconsider their decision to axe the Stirling to St Andrews bus service.
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford, in a letter to
Stagecoach East Scotland commercial director Douglas Robertson, also called on the company to carry out more consultation with passengers on the issue.
Stagecoach had pointed out that the service had already been “underperforming” before the coronavirus pandemic.
Dunblane and Clackmannanshire MSP Keith Brown and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart have already called on Stagecoach to rethink their plans.
The deadline set for consultation over the axing of service 23, which takes in Dollar, Kinross and Cupar, was last Friday, August 7.
Last month passengers criticised the decision and Mr Brown and Mr Stewart described it as “shortsighted”.
Passenger Alison Marshall of Dollar had pointed out that service 23 was the only direct service towns like Dollar had between the two destinations and “a vital link for young and old”.
In his letter to Mr Robertson, Mr Crawford said: ‘It’s no secret the public transport sector has faced challenges throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘But as workplaces, schools and general life has begun to adopt a new normal, it’s vital public transport remains an option for commuters and residents.
‘Whilst local authorities and the Scottish Government have encouraged active travel, and the uptake of methods such as cycling has been robust, bus travel remains a lifeline for several rural communities across Stirling and Central Scotland.
‘I urge Stagecoach to go back to the drawing board, carry out further consultation with communities and local authorities, and find a solution that serves both their customers and our communities.’
In response to last month’s calls to reconsider the move, a Stagecoach East spokesperson said: “The decision was made to withdraw service 23 as it was under-performing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and increasing costs mean that this service operates at a significant loss, resulting in us no longer being able to commercially run the service.
“We have been in contact with the local authorities where this service operates and have shared passenger numbers to allow them to consider if they can provide an alternative service.”
I urge Stagecoach to go back to the drawing board and find a solution that suits both their customers and our communities Bruce Crawford MSP