Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Gregor Farquharson

Angry locals campaign to save bus service that will 'cut off' Lanarkshire town

A campaign has started to save two local bus routes that run through a Lanarkshire town.

'Stand UP for Our Buses' is a community-run campaign to protect the 101 and 102 bus services from being cancelled.

The services connect the Lanarkshire towns of Biggar and Abington to Edinburgh, and are vital to the people in the area.

The buses are due to be axed on August 13, giving users just over a month to try and plan around the cancellation and find other modes of transport.

Janet Moxley is one of the campaigners hoping to save the route.

She told Lanarkshire Live : "The bus runs from Dumfries all the way to Edinburgh and passes through many small towns on the way.

"It is such a vital service for so many people, and if it is cancelled it will leave communities cut off.

"What we need is a better and more frequent service, not for it to be cancelled and people to be left with nothing.

The bus is a lifeline to many people (Janet Moxley)

"It is said that usage of the service is too low, but these stats are based on lockdown figures when people were told not to travel or use public transport.

"We need the communities who use the bus to come together and help us save it before the cut-off date of August 13."

The services are currently run by Stagecoach, who operate under the contract of the three local transport authorities where the bus runs.

A spokesman for the services said: “SPT, Scottish Borders Council, and SWestrans as partners currently fund the 101 and 102 services and are aware of the concerns regarding its future.

"Following a procurement exercise, the proposed 86 per cent increase in costs to continue the service as per the 2018 contract specification from August 2022 are unacceptable and far outweigh the available funding.

“The present funding partners are reviewing all available options, including communication with two additional local authorities which may be affected by displaced bus users should no suitable contract/operator be agreed.”

Local MSP Màiri McAllan has said she will be doing everything she can to help local people who use the service.

The SNP MSP for Clydesdale said: "I am acutely aware of the importance of this route for Clydesdale communities.

"It provides a singular link to Edinburgh, for education, work, services and social activities.

"It links Clydesdale with Edinburgh and the south and connects our towns and villages in between. I’ve used it all my life!

"It is inconceivable that this vital, long-standing and well-used route could be lost to Clydesdale and transport authorities must now put its future beyond doubt.

"As local MSP, I’m doing all I can to ensure this.

"I am pressing decision makers at the highest level (including SPT and South Lanarkshire Council) and was pleased to join protesters in Biggar on Tuesday."

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Why not head to our page and give us a like and share.

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here .

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.