Politicians have welcomed news that an under-threat bus service has been given a stay of execution.
McGill’s had previously planned to pull the number 52, which has 16 stops in Barrhead, on Saturday, January 21.
The decision sparked a furious response from passengers and a petition launched last week opposing the move has already attracted more than 1,000 signatures.
Following a meeting on Friday morning, however, the firm has agreed to delay the withdrawal until Saturday, April 1, to allow further consideration to be given to the service’s longer-term future.
The meeting with McGill’s CEO Ralph Roberts was organised by East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald and also attended by West Scotland MSP Paul O’Kane, community activist Rena McGuire BEM, a representative from MSP Tom Arthur’s office, Councillor Chris Lunday and Councillor Angela Convery.
Ms Oswald recently lodged a petition at Westminster outlining local opposition – and highlighted the issue on the floor of the House of Commons.
The SNP representative said: “I welcome the decision by McGill’s for a stay of execution for the 52 Barrhead Circular bus route.
“It is abundantly clear to me that residents have grave concerns about the withdrawal of this service which is of vital importance to locals who use it to access important amenities such as shops, schools, the library, GP practices, and other community services.
“McGill’s set out their reasons for the planned withdrawal, namely increased costs and decreased passenger numbers.
“I am glad there will now be a period for residents to fully set out their views and an opportunity to continue the conversation with McGill’s.
“I am very grateful to McGill’s for their willingness to engage with me and others on this issue and for their openness to further community dialogue.
“I will continue to work with Barrhead residents and other elected representatives to ensure McGill’s are fully aware of the vital importance of this bus service.”
Mr O’Kane, meanwhile, said he is ready to push the Scottish Government to do its bit to keep the 52 circular going.
The Labour politician was told by McGill’s that Holyrood support would be “essential” for the route to be viable in the long term.
He commented: “The meeting I had with McGill’s was a constructive one because there was a willingness to explore options of keeping the route going.
“But I did note McGill’s warning that more Scottish Government funding will have to come for them to keep it running in the long term. It’s welcomed that the service is continuing until at least April, but that’s the bare minimum of what we want to see.
“I’m determined to push the Scottish Government all the way on improving funding for community bus services and have both written to the transport minister Jenny Gilruth and laid a series of parliamentary questions seeking answers to the funding challenge.
“We must do all we can to safeguard the route for the sake of people in Barrhead who rely on the 52 circular but also people relying on similar bus routes across West Scotland.
“More widely, we need a serious debate about how we support bus services that serve communities and I will certainly discuss these issues further.
“I’ll keep engaging with McGill’s and I’ll certainly be asking the Scottish Government to come forward with a fair deal for local transport services in Barrhead.
“Scottish Labour want to see bus networks have better regulation and more public and cooperative ownership, which will make the bus a regular, affordable service for those who rely on it.”
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