Disabled and vulnerable people cannot be shut off from public transport while chiefs conduct a review of bus and rail services in Renfrewshire, campaigners have warned.
Linda Stenhouse, who has campaigned for the reinstatement of the number 64 bus in Gallowhill, says people can’t wait a year or more for lifeline buses to return to desperate communities.
The grandmother spoke out after Renfrewshire Council admitted its review of public transport could take up to nine months to complete.
The local authority committed to looking at services after McGill’s Buses last month slashed services across Renfrewshire by 13 per cent.
The business said soaring costs, an end to pandemic subsidies and a reduction in passenger numbers meant a number of routes were simply no longer “financially viable”.
And for the number 64 in Gallowhill, the bus firm said increased parking on the narrow streets meant its buses could no longer navigate the Paisley scheme.
Now Linda, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy, says she and dozens more like her remain excluded from healthcare, leisure facilities and loved ones.
She told the Paisley Daily Express: “I welcome that Renfrewshire Council has committed to a review of public transport, that is needed. But they can’t leave us like this, with no proper access to public transport, for a year.
“There are things they can put in place that will help without causing any major upset. They could paint double yellow lines on some streets and make them one-way to allow the buses to get round.
“This wouldn’t cost anything to the council and should at least be considered as an interim measure while the review is being completed. Otherwise the reality for me and other disabled people is that we will be continue to be housebound.”
Last month, the Paisley Daily Express told the stories of people from across Renfrewshire devastated by the bus cuts.
A reduction to the number 17 service means Stephen Blom is no longer able to get the bus to receive life-saving dialysis three days a week while pensioner Andy Wilson no longer has a direct bus to see his wife of 62 years at Elderslie care home.
The frail OAP from Erskine also now needs to take three buses to access Royal Alexandra Hospital.
West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby, who has launched a campaign to save the buses, said people need solutions now.
“The council’s response to launch a review on local bus provision which may not report for a year is not nearly adequate,” he said. “People want these bus services put back on now and the bottom line is this hasn’t happened.
“In fairness, councils and SPT [Strathclyde Partnership for Transport] only have limited resources and that’s why I have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to provide local councils with the resources, guidance and necessary information to bring local buses under local control.”
A cuncil spokesperson said: “We continue to work with all bus operators and SPT on local bus service provision across Renfrewshire, particularly in light of the recent service changes implemented by McGill’s, and regularly review our transport network to identify potential improvements that could be made.
“The council has recently approved a public transport network review to identify gaps in the network and work in partnership to improve the public transport offer in Renfrewshire.”
Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s Group, has questioned the need for a review of public transport in Renfrewshire, claiming his company has been highlighting concerns for years.
He said: “It remains perplexing that councillors are choosing to spend £50,000 of taxpayers’ money and take one year to report when the problems that exist with public transport are simple to understand and have been explained to councillors and officials repeatedly.”
Citing issues with uncontrolled parking, potholes and the general poor condition of the roads as creating massive problems for bus providers, Mr Roberts added: “All of this makes it far costlier for buses to operate in terms of the increased number of vehicles needed, the costly repairs needed to their suspension, the inflated number of drivers required and the additional fuel to power them.
“Councillors have the power to take action on these matters but have thus far refused to do so.”
People can sign Linda’s petition calling for the 64 bus to be reinstated by logging on to https://www.change.org/p/bring-back-64-bus-in-paisley?
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