THE fight for Drumchapel residents to receive direct transport to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is set to end if a local charity's minibus bid is given the green light.

G15 Buses' gruelling campaign for the north-west Glasgow suburb to receive public transport to the south side hospital could end if they receive a coveted Section 19 permit - of the Transport Act 1985 which enables not-for-profit organisations to operate transport – which would enable them to run a minibus service to and from the hospital.

Organiser Will Thomson has applied for various funding opportunities and hopes to receive a modest fee from around 30 to 60 members, coupled with volunteer drivers, the service could be up and running within weeks – if the permit is granted.

He told the Evening Times: "Initially it would just be one bus, I think we've got to walk before we run but the dream is to put Drumchapel right at the centre of the community transport network in Glasgow.

"I want people to get where they want to get to. It's everybody's charity.

"It's looking like the staff here and in the Clydebank area need it even more than the community."

The charity, formerly Drumchapel Initiative for Transport, had been vocal critics of a six-month pilot scheme running from Clydebank to the Govan hospital failed last year.

The project was a result of campaigning from Dalmuir and Mountblow Community Council but numerous Drumchapel residents made the journey to Clydebank's town centre instead of an existing service from the area, which takes around 90 minutes.

Despite the backing of West Dunbartonshire councillors and passengers, the numbers were not considered high enough to make a permanent route leaving the group "stranded" once again.

Will added: "There are hardly any buses running from Dumbarton Road or Glasgow Road to the hospital – it's crazy.

"This is supposed to be our closest hospital and it's far too difficult to get to."

The initiative from G15 Buses, who gained charitable status last summer to achieve their goal, would see an initial timetable of two buses per day with patients and visitors booking the service no later than one-day prior to travel.

It's already received backing from councillors from both Clydebank and Drumchapel.

Baillie Malcolm Balfour told the Evening Times: "I'm fully supportive of it and hopefully we can take it forward with some success.

"It has been a long time since we've had a direct link from Drumchapel via Clydebank to the Queen Elizabeth and it's something that's badly needed.

"I'm a former bus driver myself and I know it's a service that's needed."

Councillor Paul Carey added: "I would gladly support G15 application for a section 19 to get a bus.

"I have said many times in the past that the only way we can sort out the buses in Glasgow is to call for them to be regulated and be similar to the model that's run in Edinburgh."

While Clydebank councillor Danny Lennie said: "G15 Buses is a really, really good idea and I am confident that each community would do everything in their powers to help and assist each other through this.

"The service is needed and that’s the bottom line.”