Bus Operators Tell of Woes
In a recent meeting with Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP, several local bus operators have hit out at the Scottish Government for cutting funding to the Bus Service Operators Grant and underfunding the Concessionary Travel Scheme - which could see local services reduced or scrapped altogether.
Speaking after the meeting, Mark said:
"Bus operators in our area are at breaking point as a consequence of the actions taken by the Scottish Government.
"In a recent meeting with several local operators, it was made clear to me that the 20% cut to the BSOG will have a serious impact on the level of service across the area.
"Furthermore, the disgraceful lack of funding given to bus operators to implement the concessionary travel scheme could result in many companies pulling their service altogether.
"By law, bus operators must implement the concessionary travel scheme, and it is wholly unacceptable that the Scottish Government is not giving them the funding they need to do so. The Government’s actions could see companies fold, jobs lost and the already inadequate bus service in our area get even worse.
"The Scottish Government should be doing all in its power to encourage people to use public transportation; instead it is imposing deeply damaging cuts on local bus companies, cuts that operators cannot absorb and that risks future service provision across Cumbernauld and Kilsyth."
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