Councillors win pledge to save some bus services but concerns remain
A GROUP of West Fife councillors say they have received “limited reassurances and commitments” on proposals to change bus services in West Fife.
Labour councillors Graeme Downie, Cara Hilton, Gordon Pryde and Andrew Verrecchia welcomed a pledge to save some services, however, expressed concern that cuts will still take place around the Kingdom.
As reported by the Press earlier this month, they had written to Stagecoach demanding that the company halt their plans to “slash” services.
The councillors said that since the proposals had been announced, they had been inundated by calls, emails and social media messages from constituents complaining about the suggested timetable alterations.
After meeting representatives from Stagecoach East last week, they welcomed several concessions they say were provided by the operator.
These included a pledge that the 85 service from Rosyth, which passes Dunfermline Crematorium, will now not be scrapped, while services 4, 4A and 28 will provide cover for the removal of the 6 and 6A from Saline to Dunfermline and peak services will remain available.
Early morning services (3a/3b) from Townhill which arrive in the city centre prior to 6am are also set to continue while there will also be consideration of additional services on East Baldridge Drive where there are growing needs from new housing developments.
The councillors have now called on the Scottish Government to help maintain vital transport infrastructure and not leave it to those seeking to make profit primarily.
In a joint statement, Cllrs Downie, Hilton, Pryde and Verrecchia, said: “Public transport is critical infrastructure and must be treated as such, not simply left to companies whose main goal is to make profit.”
“While we thank Stagecoach for their quick response, detailed conversation and constructive approach in making some limited improvements for our constituents who got in touch, we remain very concerned about the cuts in certain services across West Fife.
“These changes are still going to cause a lot of disruption for people across the area, at a time when public transport should be more accessible, not less.”
The proposals, which are being looked at to coincide with the end of the Scottish Government’s COVID recovery funding in October, have been driven by changing habits – fewer people are using some buses which means Stagecoach is wrestling with reduced income and increasing costs.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said: “The consultation is closed now and we will be reviewing all of the feedback received. We will confirm in due course any changes that have been made to our original proposals.”