Bus link cut will hit Windygates

Madam, – The proposal by Stagecoach to remove the weekday and Saturday 41 service, has been put forward as being acceptable, in order to run an extended service using the current X58 which serves Leven to Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh along the coastal route.

The removal of the 41 service will pay for the X58 service being extended from Leven, via Kennoway and Cupar to Dundee.

This proposal will effectively cut off Windygates from any direct links to Kirkcaldy, a service that has existed for decades.

The removal of this service will greatly impinge on the elderly or infirm population who will be forced to undertake two bus journeys to travel to Kirkcaldy.

Residents will also be directly affected in the additional time taken to travel to their place of work, further education or, indeed, Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Currently the 41 service stops at Victoria Hospital main entrance in less than 20 minutes from Windygates.

The X58 does not, thereby forcing passengers to use a slower route and, catch another service from Kirkcaldy Bus Station to reach the hospital.

Stagecoach have stated that Cameron Hospital will still be served by one local bus service running between Leven and Glenrothes however, there will be no direct service between Kirkcaldy and Cameron Hospital.

In a world where rural services are on the decline, this is another example of putting profit before customer service which will also force commuters to use car travel as the most efficient alternative. John D McVicar. 4 Cameron Crescent, Windygates,

Fife.