West Lothian locals have reportedly been sacked from their jobs after a 'poor' bus service repeatedly made them late in the morning - with old people also being left stranded.
Residents in Fauldhouse have hit out at the bus service that serves the village and have vented their frustration at Lothian Buses after the removal of the 281 Lothian Country service last year.
Members of the Fauldhouse Community Council have spoken to the Courier about the situation and said that it has become worse due to the 26, now run by McGill's, being "unreliable" and often "failing to turn up."
READ MORE: Tributes to beloved Edinburgh dad who was 'kindest soul' and popular local waiter
One desperate member of the community, John Strang, says he has pleaded with Lothian Buses to reinstate the former service but is yet to receive a response. He added that the 26 replacement is not reliable and does not even travel into Edinburgh.
John told the Courier: "You'd think we were in the middle of nowhere, but we have a large population and it's not good enough. Ideally we want the 281 reinstated, but we have written to Lothian Country several times now and have never heard anything back.
"But there are problems with the 26 as well, carry on like it stopping in Longridge, or not even turning up at all. It's just not reliable, people are really frustrated. There was one morning I went out for a bus at 8.24am an it just didn't come.
"People are obviously trying to get to their work at that time, I know of a couple of folk sacked from Aldi and Amazon because the buses haven't been reliable.
"But it's not just that, elderly people are struggling to get to appointments and hospital and things. I've actually taken people places myself when I've seen them standing stranded at a bus stop.
"I'm lucky I do have a car, but a lot of people don't."
A Lothian Country Buses spokesperson said the 281 service had been scrapped due to lack of demand.
They continued: "Lothian Country is a commercial business which is committed to delivering for all of our customers in what continues to be an exceptionally challenging operational climate.
"Service 281 was suspended in late 2021 and at present there are no plans to reinstate this service due to a lack of customer demand."
McGill's Group - who took over the running of First Scotland East's business in Falkirk, Stirling and West Lothian in September - said it will take two years to fully restore the service to the standards they expect after being pressed about its performance.
Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill's Group, said: "We really appreciate both the patience our customers have shown as we work to improve services as well as the exceptional hard work of our local team to help make that happen.
"McGill's chose to buy the business because our group is very experienced in operating services that serve both urban and rural areas. However, it is clear from the outset that investment will be needed in order for the business to catch up and reach the quality standard we want to offer.
"Services in the region also experienced higher levels of customer complaints than we were anticipating, partly as a result of the legacy vehicle issues we are now addressing. We have worked to improve local customer service systems but as a result of the overall improvements we're making we are already seeing less complaints as we deliver improved service reliability and punctuality.
"We have made huge strides in the last six weeks but it will take time. I am personally familiar with the area, having lived and worked there, and over the coming years we plan to make significant strides in order to get the business and its services into the shape we insist upon."
READ NEXT:
Young Edinburgh woman films her own despicable rant after nightclub turns her away
Scottish fisherman gobsmacked after dragging up WW2 rifle from an Edinburgh canal
Mum in pyjamas hurls herself across camper van in parking row with neighbour
Edinburgh locals can have a go at 'hover-board' like sport on the Firth of Forth
Edinburgh Euromillions winner Jane Park 'single again' as whirlwind romance ends
