Brakes put on Elgin bus service
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A POPULAR Elgin bus service will grind to a halt this weekend after efforts to keep it on the road "fell on deaf ears".
Labour MSP David Stewart has vowed to press for the reinstatement of the 340/341 service, much used by the elderly, which he described as a "community centre on wheels".
Leading campaigner Sara Marsh said her petition to save the service – which she said was "one of the most positive things that have happened in Elgin in the last few years" – was deemed invalid by Moray Council.
And two bus drivers are now left facing redundancy as, with a "heavy heart", Deveron Coaches owner Albert Milne takes his bus off the route because he can't afford to keep it running unsubsidised.
Mr Milne was forced into the decision after funding from a housing developer and managed by Moray Council ran dry.
A frantic community effort has been made to save the 340/341 – which many of Elgin's older bus users have come to rely on as a reliable and socially enjoyable way of getting to hospital and health centre appointments, and simply getting out and about easily.
The cash-strapped council said it can no longer afford to fund external bus services.
Mr Stewart, who joined passengers on the bus last month, said: "My experience on the bus was this is much more than your ordinary everyday bus service. This is a community centre on wheels.
"Trying to find a way to get this route reinstated is a very important campaign and one I’m going to continue to fight. I’ve had positive discussions with Stagecoach chief executive David Liston and with the council’s chief executive, Roddy Burns. I’ve also written to Robertson Homes as well as raising the issue with Transport Secretary Michael Matheson.
"It’s very sad to see the bus go off the route but hopefully this is only temporary. I will continue to do everything I can to try to get funding support for a bus to operate on this route."
Mrs Marsh said the bus had become "a little community". The campaigner set up a petition to try to put pressure on the Scottish Government and Moray Council to step in with last-minute support of around £115,000 to keep the bus running for another year.
A copy of the petition was sent to Moray Council.
The retired librarian, who is a regular user of the service, said: "The chief executive has said the petition is not valid because those signing it did not write their full addresses on it. That’s ludicrous. No old person is going to leave their full name and address on a petition that’s been left lying on a public bus.
"I’m really disappointed by the council’s reply. I’m going to write back to them saying ‘thank you for your unsympathetic and unhelpful reply’.
"Our plight has fallen on deaf ears."
