Lifeline bus decision ‘not taken lightly’

Possibilities of overtime and agency workers both explored

Council bosses are insisting they explored every option before deciding to suspend a lifeline bus service for vulnerable Fifers.

The Ring and Ride and Dial-a-Ride services are being halted at weekends in several areas because of driver holidays and staff illness.

Fife Council has pledged the move is temporary, but admitted services are unlikely to be fully restored for disabled and elderly passengers until the new year.

The decision, affecting Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth, has prompted outcry from charities representing disabled people in the region.

Fife Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Tim Brett, called on the council to come clean on whether it had considered all the options before acting.

“When I first saw this in the press I was disappointed that the service was being cut back in this way,” he said.

“A lot of elected members will be contacted about this

“Have we asked existing drivers about overtime? Have we explored the possibility of agency drivers?”

The Dial-a-Ride and Ring and Ride schemes offer wheelchair-accessible bus travel free of charge to people who have trouble getting on and off mainstream public transport.

The Fife Council-operated services shuttle people from their homes to major shopping centres, providing a vital link for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

Chairman of Disabilities Fife, Charles Litster, said the decision to halt services could leave many vulnerable people isolated at weekends.

Colin Hamilton, Fife Council’s passenger transport service manager, insisted bosses had been left with no alternative.

He said: “This is an unfortunate situation but we are doing all we can to give our customers the best possible service given the circumstances.

“We have an unusually high number of staff experiencing serious ill health or with injuries that will take time to recuperate from.

“This has coincided with other people’s planned holidays and we’re also in the process of recruiting to a couple of vacant posts.

“Before taking the decision to re-prioritise the service we explored overtime for remaining drivers and the possibility of using agency workers.

“However, there were both financial and practical limitations.”

Mr Hamilton said his team had rearranged driver duties to prioritise the shifts at times when client demand is highest.

“We’re continuing with the weekday Dial-a-Ride service as normal in rural areas where clients don’t have access to any form of alternative transport.”

“This is an unfortunate situation but we are doing all we can. COLIN HAMILTON

Picture: Steven Brown. The Ring and Ride and Dial-a-Ride services are being halted at weekends.