Bus services secured

Contract awarded

Residents in Fernhill are breathing a sigh of relief after it was announced their lifeline bus service is secure for another two years.

There were fears in the community that the number 14 was set to be scrapped.

But SPT have confirmed a new contract to run the service has been awarded to McGill’s, who will take over the service on July 17.

The 14 links Fernhill with Burnside, Rutherglen and, crucially, the primary care centre on Stonelaw Road.

Users had been concerned the contract would not be renewed but McGill’s offered £ 76,400 to run the service until July 14, 2018, the equivalent of £ 38,200 per year.

The 14 was one of four vital bus links in the local area that were secured at SPT’s operating committee last week.

Also running until July 2018 is the 165, which provides an hourly service, Monday to Saturday evening and all day Sunday, between Rutherglen and Cairns via Cathkin.

Again, McGill’s will take over the service with the contract worth £110,000 over the two years.

McGill’s will also run the 172, which runs hourly, Monday to Saturday, between Halfway and East Kilbride, via Cambuslang.

The £169,320 contract will run from July 17, 2016 until July 10, 2021.

The vital M2 and 74 services provide a service between Toryglen and Croftfoot as the M2 and Toryglen and Castlemilk as the 74.

The hourly daytime services will continue until at least July 10, 2021 with First Bus picking up the contract for £141,960.