Fight to save ‘vital’ 77B bus services

Concern for elderly in ‘hilly parts’ of Wormit and Newport

The clock is ticking for residents in Wormit trying to save their “lifeline” bus service.

The 77B route is among a number of routes facing reductions as Stagecoach claims it is no longer sustainable.

The route will see a reduction in the number of buses stopping at Norwood and Crosshill Terrace – the “hilly parts” as Councillor Jonny Tepp described them.

The councillor said many elderly people in that area rely on the bus to get them to medical appointments and the chemist.

The bus operator said it is in talks with Fife Council and insists a final decision has yet to be made.

The Newport, Wormit and Forgan Community Council will discuss the issue with Stagecoach representatives next week, but the deadline for the online public consultation is this Friday.

Secretary Kate Legg said it is a lifeline to elderly people who live up the hill in Wormit and Newport.

She said it stops at the doctors’ surgery and chemist in Newport, and a lot of people rely on that, so it was vital this is saved.

“A lot of people who will be affected by the changes do not deal with email, so the meeting will be their first chance to speak to Stagecoach about how they feel.

“It’s a shame the public consultation will be finished before we get a chance to meet them, but they have agreed to send two representatives. We hope they will keep their ears open until the meeting.”

Liberal Democrat councillor for Tay Bridgehead Mr Tepp said: “I have had streams of emails from residents saying the service is a lifeline and it is not slowing down.”

He added: “I do feel that Stagecoach could have done more to let people know about the changes and their consultation period. We’ve been around with leaflets, talking to people and posting on social media so people know about it.

“Even though the consultation period will be over, I’m sure they would not send representatives to a meeting just to listen and say ‘that’s interesting, but the public consultation is over’. “That would make me angry.” Douglas Robertson, Stagecoach East Scotland commercial director, said: “We have found that usage of the 75 service is continually very low. Similarly, continued low passenger usage of off-peak service 77B journeys means these are no longer sustainable.

“We are currently in talks with Fife Council to assess this situation further.

“We’ll use customer feedback, coupled with the discussions held with local councillors and from our attendance at the community council meeting next week, to fully analyse all possibilities and revisions, prior to any decisions being made about these services.”

The community council will meet at Blyth Hall, Newport, on March 26 at 7.30pm.

…continued low passenger usage of offpeak service 77B journeys means these are no longer sustainable. DOUGLAS ROBERTSON