Communities in Glasgow could be left without vital bus services after route cancellations were announced.
Four services run by Glasgow Citybus on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in Glasgow are set to be chopped this July, with the intimation included in the latest notices from the Scottish Transport Commissioner.
The number 49 bus between Silverburn and Shawlands is set to be cut in the move, as well as the 153 service between the shopping centre and Glasgow city centre.
The 124 between Cardonald and Govan and ‘Bishopbriggs circular’ route, number 142, also face the chop.
Campaigners and politicians have hit out at the move, saying services like these are “vital” to local areas.
READ MORE: Shettleston Road scores near bottom of UK retail league - what do locals think?
Get Glasgow Moving campaigner Ellie Harrison said: “It sounds like an absolute disaster to have them wiped out overnight.
“What we are pushing for is that SPT properly utilises all the powers from the forthcoming Transport Bill to regulate properly meaning providers can’t drop routes at the drop of a hat.
“All cancellations are a total disaster for the people who rely on these services and we hope this makes evident that this system is fundamentally broken.”
The changes could prove problematic for those travelling short distances around the city, including those in Cardonald using housing services and the local Jobcentre in Govan.
READ MORE: Glasgow family 'facing death' in Pakistan plead for asylum
Cardonald councillor Alex Wilson said this would have an “immediate impact” on his constituents and called on another provider to take over the route.
The Evening Times understands the services will now be put out to tender by SPT. However, if there are no parties interested, the buses may not run.
An SPT spokesperson said: “These subsidised services are the subject of a tendering exercise and the results will be reported to the Operations Committee in due course.”
Glasgow Citybus did not comment on the issue.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel