Residents given new bus lifeline
Interim service welcomed
A private bus firm has stepped in to rescue the day for Stewartfield commuters with the creation of a new service.
That ’s af t er Fi r s t Glasgow axed t he lifeline #31 bus from its timetable – the only one that served residents there.
We told you previously how residents in Stewartfield were left with no access to buses after the lifeline service was canned.
Now J MB T r av e l hav e c r e a t e d t h e #31B ser vice, linking East Kilbride Bus station with West Mains, Stewartfield and Carmunnock.
The small firm made the announcement on their website today (Friday).
JMB say they will offer a service every hour – news that has been welcomed by those who fought to save the existing bus.
Councillor Joe Fagan told the News on Friday: “This is undoubtedly good news for West Mains and Stewartfiedl – it guarantees that a lifeline service returns to area.
“I have been speaking with commuters, pensioners and other local residents who all depend on public transport and will be delighted that a bus service is coming back to the area.
“However, it is important to stress that this is an interim service and it does not fully replace the 31 or the Sunday service to Kingsgate that served East Mains.
“What seems to make the 31B possible is shifting budgets within SPT, linked to lockdown, and so as the country emerges from the crisis, we will still have a lot of work to do to build back to a better bus network that serves the whole community. We need to keep up the pressure for better public transport in the town.”
The a nnouncement by Fi r s t s aw a fierce backlash from local residents and pol i t i c i a ns, wi t h t wo pet i t i ons bei ng launched to save the service.
One of which was that by Councillor Fagan and colleague, Monique McAdams.
Councillor McAdams said on Friday: “This will make an enormous difference in Stewartfield.
“The area has been left without a bus service since the 31 was withdrawn and, although this is only an interim service, it will restore public transport to the area.
“Well done to everyone who supported the campaign and lobbied for action on the 31 bus.
“However, with some areas of the town still not ser ved at all, we need to work even harder to improve bus ser vices as the country comes out of the Covid crisis.”
The news was welcomed further afield t o o, w i t h C o u n c i l l o r Dav i d Wat s o n who said the interim service would “be welcomed by residents of Stewartfield”.
He added: “It has been disappointing the way First Bus treated local residents by w i t h d r aw i n g t h e s e r v i c e w i t h o u t discussion or prior notice.
“Hopefully this interim measure pulled together at short notice can be sustained and improved upon.”
G r a h a m S i mp s o n MS P, w h o h a d launched his own petition to save t h e # 3 1 s e r v i c e, a l s o we l c o med t h e implementation of the JMB service.
He told the News: “However, it’s a short term fix and in no way solves the longer ter m issue of having an adequate bus service for Stewartfield and West Mains.
“It ’s my view t hat alternative routes connecting both areas to the town centre and Glasgow need to be found to encourage behaviour change.
“Ultimately only by having a decent bus service wise encourage people to use them.”
For more information on the new 31B service, head to jmbtravel.co.uk