AN OPEN MEETING has been called to allow public discussion over the withdrawal of a Moray bus service that provides a vital link to several coastal villages.
Stagecoach last month announced the withdrawal of their service 34 which links Kingston, Garmouth, Urquhart and Lhanbryde with Elgin.
The service will be withdrawn from April – and while Moray Council have said they would consider an alternative, as they are facing their own extreme financial pressures it seems unlikely that they will be in a position to help.
Over 900 residents will be left without any service – a situation that local councillor Douglas Ross says is of particular concern, saying: “This will be a loss felt quite strongly by a number of people in the community – I will be working with council officers and looking at forming a business case to help us weigh up our options.”
Stagecoach say that they had little option but to withdraw the service as it was rarely used, with a spokeswoman saying that the “challenging climate” in the region left them little option but to restructure their timetables.
Now a meeting has been called hosted by the Milne’s Area Forum and the Moray Forum Transport Steering Group on Tuesday, March 15 at the Urquhart Parish Hall from 7pm.
Anyone who requires transport to the meeting is being asked to contact Anita Milne on 01343 842289 or 01343 843025.