College bus link back on table after transport summit

Plans to bring back a bus service to link North Angus with Dundee and Angus College are on the table again after a transport summit in Brechin.

Students from Edzell and Brechin launched an online petition earlier this year, attracting 600 names, after Stagecoach removed the dedicated No 33 service due to a change in its funding arrangements with D&A College.

The change means there is only one bus that can get learners from Brechin to the campus in Arbroath in time for college – the 39 – but it arrives more than an hour before many courses start.

Passengers from further afield, such as Edzell, now face a marathon one hour 40 minute journey to travel the 20 miles from their village to Arbroath.

Angus North and Mearns SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon called a special meeting between D&A College, Stagecoach, Angus Council and constituents.

Stagecoach has promised to review whether an existing bus route can be adapted to serve the students, Angus Council is offering to survey passengers and the college says it will promote lift-sharing.

Mrs Gougeon said: “At a time when more and more services are being reduced, the last thing we want to do is cut people off in rural areas.

“In the past students from as far as Laurencekirk were able to access a service to get to Arbroath to study but that was removed last August.

“Many people still travel between villages and towns in South Aberdeenshire and Angus for work or study and many don’t have cars.

“Some students can’t physically get to college on time and others are having to get there very early.”