REGULAR DISRUPTION OF bus services in Moray are not being addressed by operator Stagecoach to the satisfaction of a local MSP and Councillor.
Douglas Ross wrote to the operator after learning from constituents in Spey Bay, Portgordon and Clochan that travel to such as the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was being made almost impossible by bus.
Changes to timetables introduced at the end of last year left residents in rural communities waiting too long for a bus linking them from Fochabers to Aberdeen – and even when they boarded the bus, many had difficulties with no toilet facilities available on the two-hour journey.
However, the response from Stagecoach left Mr Ross demanding a face to face meeting with managing director Mark Whitelocks, the MSP saying his response was far from satisfactory.
In his reply the Stagecoach chief said that it was impossible to satisfy every customer – adding that buses are set “at the times that are most popular” to arrive and depart at main depots. He added that the company were “not at the stage where we can offer toilets on all” service journeys, but pledged that the company was working towards that.
Mr Ross hit out at the response, saying: “The reply does not make positive reading for many of the constituents who came to see me with concerns. I am not assured that the regular disruption some Stagecoach customers have outlined to me will stop.
“Given the significant number of issues I raised with Stagecoach and the fact that I cannot be satisfied for my constituents, I will be meeting Mr Whitelocks to see what can be done to improve things.”