Carse of Gowrie residents complain about lack of buses.

TRAVEL: Bus giant planning to change services in the area next month to address issues

“I regularly hear of people who are late for work because buses don’t arrive on time or sometimes don’t show up at all

Bus passengers in part of Perthshire have been left frustrated over a lack of buses through the area.

Residents in the Carse of Gowrie have written to council officials complaining about the service from bus company Stagecoach.

Residents claim buses have failed to arrive and the company has left them without further travel options following breakdowns.

It comes after bus services in the area were changed, with fewer now passing through the district.

The number 16 was replaced by the number 39 and the service which arrived every 30 minutes now comes once an hour.

Conservative councillor Angus Forbes has received numerous complaints about the bus company and said the situation cannot continue.

He said: “I am receiving increasing complaints from my constituents in Carse of Gowrie Ward about the number of buses which simply don’t arrive at their destination.

“This seems to either be because they have broken down someplace else on the route, or they are used to replace a broken down bus on another route.

“This is a situation that simply cannot be allowed to continue.

“It is a remote area with many people relying on the bus to get them to work and to other important appointments.

“Last week a constituent missed a doctor’s appointment because the bus did not arrive.

“I regularly hear of people who are late for work because buses don’t arrive on time or sometimes don’t show up at all.”

One complaint received by Mr Forbes from a constituent urged Stagecoach to improve the service as the current standard is not acceptable.

Stagecoach is now planning to change services in the area next month in an attempt to improve performance.

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach East Scotland said: “We are aware of some reliability issues affecting service 39 recently.

“Some of this has been caused by increased traffic in Dundee and Perth for summer events and we are continually monitoring our services in the area to improve reliability.

“We are also hopeful that our planned service changes taking place on August 13 will address some timing issues on parts of the route further east.

“It is unfortunate that some recent incidents along the route, including a breakdown on one of the journeys, have caused missed journeys.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Our depot teams will continue to review the performance of the service to minimise any disruption that occurs.”

Picture: Steven Brown. A member of the public waiting for a bus in St Madoes.