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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Gregor Farquharson

Success for Lanarkshire campaigners as lifeline bus given six month extension

Campaigners celebrated last night after it was announced a lifeline bus service will be given a six month extension.

The 101/2 bus service was set to be axed next month. but now this extension means that locals can work together to have a proper consultation on the route.

The bus travels from Dumfries to Edinburgh and services the Lanarkshire towns of Biggar and Abington.

It has been described as a lifeline for the local community and there are fears that if it was to be axed, people may be cut off from their jobs and family.

After a series of demonstrations, it was announced that the service will now run until March 31, 2023.

But campaigners have said there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure the bus continues to run after this date, as well as secure a better service for users.

Janet Moxley has been campaigning endlessly to save the route and has said she is relieved at the news.

She told Lanarkshire Live : "When we heard the news last night we were so happy.

"It means that we can have a proper consultation into the bus route and we can gather proper usage data and show the operators how important this bus is.

"Keeping this service is so important.

"There were calls for a service to run to Harthill and then people would have to use the 900, that was just a ludicrous proposal."

Local MSP Màiri McAllan has been at the forefront of the campaign to save the 101/2.

She said on Twitter: "Very pleased that local transport authorities have found a way to secure our lifeline rural bus service until March 2023.

"Huge congrats to community campaigners who I’ve been pleased to stand and work beside. Now a proper consultation process can begin."

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

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