DUMFRIESSHIRE MSP Oliver Mundell has accused the Stagecoach company of throwing local communities ‘under the bus’ after it emerged they could exit the region altogether.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist representative raised the issue with SNP First Minister John Swinney during Questions at Holyrood last Thursday, highlighting fears the operator could close depots in Dumfries and Stranraer, axe more than 100 jobs and hand back school transport contracts.
Responding, Mr Swinney initially stated that this was a live procurement exercise and that the SNP Government had no involvement. However, he went on to say he understands the importance of local transport links and would instruct his officials to look into the matter.
Mr Mundell believes any plans to shut Stagecoach services would be ‘devastating’ for the region and would mean rural and remote communities would be ‘completely abandoned’ by the firm.
He has urged the company and SNP Ministers to find a solution to protect local jobs and bus services across Dumfries and Galloway as a matter of urgency.
Oliver Mundell said: “Stagecoach’s plans have deeply alarmed my constituents across Dumfriesshire.
“It is clear this major firm are prepared to throw this region under the bus with these proposals. If they turn their back on the region then that will mean dozens of jobs are lost and communities will be left without crucial bus services.
“That is why I used First Minister’s Questions to urge John Swinney to urgently intervene in this situation. While his response only offered a little comfort, it was welcome he recognised the importance of local transport services and will ask his officials to look further into this situation.
“If Stagecoach abandon the region it would be devastating and mean rural and remote communities would be completely abandoned by the firm.”
Meanwhile, Dumfries and Galloway Council, working with regional transport partnership SWestrans, have offered a limited update on their bus procurement activity.
SWestrans is responsible for the local bus network, while the home-to-school transport network is the responsibility of the council.
Contracts for both are expiring and need to be re-procured for August and part of the tender process is to ensure bus operators meet minimum requirements on a range of industry-standard terms and conditions.
A spokesperson said: “The council takes its statutory duties to provide school transport extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring all school transport routes are operational for the start of the school year in August, with these routes being given priority.
“In addition, the council and SWestrans are committed to providing a well-connected local bus network.
“These long-term contracts will provide bus operators with certainty and stability in a market that is increasingly fragile and unsustainable.”
But that’s all they can say as “the evaluation, clarification and negotiations relating to tenders received from bus operators is ongoing and confidential”.
