Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has met with senior transport managers at Moray Council about problems with local bus services.
Mr Halcro Johnston asked for the meeting, which was attended by Head of Direct Services, Stephen Cooper, to discuss concerns raised by Moray residents during a series of street surgeries the Conservative MSP has held across the county in recent weeks.
A number of well-established bus services have been discontinued in the last few years, with some residents left feeling isolated and unable to travel independently around the county.
He said: “There is real concern across Moray over local bus services being withdrawn or reduced.
“This is felt acutely in Forbeshill in Forres, but it is not the only community that is feeling short-changed. Local public transport provision came up time and time again at my street surgeries, with residents, often elderly and living on their own, feeling they are being left isolated and with reduced independence by the loss of their local bus services.
“I have already been in contact with both the Council and bus operators about this issue, but it was good to have a face-to face discussion with council officials as it allowed us to fully explore this problem, the impact it is having and possible solutions.
“There certainly seems to be a willingness from the Council to do what it can, but any solution will have to consider both the financial and regulatory constraints under which the Council currently operates.
“Given the unfair financial settlement Moray receives from the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, and with Moray’s SNP administration already threatening more cuts next year, it’s likely officials will have to look at other, more innovative, solutions,
“This might include a wider role for the on demand service and, looking longer term, ensuring that public transport provision is fully embedded into proposals for new housing developments. Also, new services which link new developments to town centres could also be required to serve currently unserviced communities along the route.
“What’s clear is that we need both the Council and transport operators to work innovatively together to deliver creative solutions which ensure those Moray residents who rely on public transport have access to reliable services and are not left feeling isolated in their own homes.”
