Reinstate Evening bus service to Locharbriggs and Heathhall

Hope you got my link to email from Scottish Green Transport spokesman Mark Russell about debate in Scottish Parliament about need for much better bus services in Scotland and to put pressure on the Government to press local Governments like D&G to improve services and cut costs.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DibGz1z3v1NavrZVA

Sent to Emma Harpers Facebook post
All great but maybe you could mention the apartheid of living in the suburbs of Dumfries, not to mention outside the town boundaries, and being unable to travel to the town centre after 8 pm for any reason by bus. You might remember my petition to reinstate the no.1 bus to Locharbriggs and Heathall after 8 signed online by 400 residents. The response was " we can run what buses we like if they are not subsidised" by Stagecoach, and "it's got nothing to do with us" from the Council's dreadful Swestrans operation.
How they hope to have a vibrant town centre when most of the population can't get to it in the evenings goodness knows.
It is particularly disappointing to a party member when members of the Swestrans board are SNP councillors and when none of the local councillors sign the petition.

I have given up and you should receive an email about the failure of the campaign from me soon. Thanks for signing and sorry we couldn't get help from anybody in Swestrans or the Council or Stagecoach.

new operator has been found for a bus service it was feared could cease running between Dumfries and Edinburgh.
Lockerbie-based Houston's Coaches is being recommended to take over operating the 101/102 service.
The move will be considered at Strathclyde Passenger Transport's operations committee on Friday.
If agreed, it would see a three-year contract awarded - with an optional two-year extension - at a cost of £385,000-a-year.
The Dumfries to Edinburgh service - which was run by Stagecoach - looked set to be removed in August last year before funding was found to run until the end of March this year.

1. We’ve been asked if we can help people send emails to their elected reps about the imminent threat to the 101/2

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

D&G - Annandale North Ward

1. Lynne Davis
[email protected]

2. Gail MacGregor
[email protected]

3. Stephen Thompson
[email protected]

4. Carolyne Wilson
[email protected]

D&G Nith and Upper Nithsdale Ward

1. Tony Berretti
[email protected]

2. Jim Dempster
[email protected]

3. Andrew Wood
[email protected]

D&G Lochar Ward

1. Linda Dorward
[email protected]

2. Ivor Hyslop
[email protected]

3. Maureen Johnstone
[email protected]

4. Tracey Little
[email protected]

D&G North West Dumfries Ward

1. Graham Bell
[email protected]

2. Andy Ferguson
[email protected]

3. Emma Jordan
[email protected]

4. Paula Stevenson
[email protected]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-64068824

Protests were held along the route when it was under threat of removal in August
Fears that it would cease to operate prompted protests along the length of the route.

It was given a funding lifeline in order to allow a new tender exercise to be carried out.

That has now been completed but none of the bids has proved acceptable.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0hBitURSNMMivN5yqsmDXD5K1fefAoAW7h4EJgf27fHs43HWCFswwBBn7AyS4AWRbl&id=278625355569096

In their request I have forwarded the petition and the replies to it from Stagecoach West Scotland and Swestrans to the Bus Users Group who will liaise with them and require them to provide a better service by law

Post below was my suggestion on Stand Up For Our Buses Facebook page. If you are interested in the progress on the future fate of the 101 Dumfries to Edinburgh the decision will be made on Thursday from various options on that page. Get in touch with your Councillor if you want them to save the bus from Dumfries

Why can Stagecoach run a coach with toilet to Glasgow from Dumfries nearly every hour in COMPETITIONwith a regular direct train service but cannot run an hourly coach service to Edinburgh when there is NO train route? Edinburgh is a very attractive destination for Dumfries people and for people travelling into Dumfries who want to then go on to Edinburgh. Try it, you will be very busy. Thousands go every year round to Carlisle or to Glasgow and over to Edinburgh because there is not a regular safe coach service. Suggest alternate Express coach using Moffat Abington Biggar route with slower bus via Thornhill or Moffat, and all smaller stops and that one could have prams and wheelchair spaces.

Have posted petition to Scottish Bus Users Group asking for their help and to investigate the appalling situation.

https://www.facebook.com/100070980203284/posts/pfbid0pGJxJwGu4jj1WMw1zUkzMNmba1XkxefGaVk6MXq8JfYFshZCKC5jaxrnsKiZj8DWl/

Didn't get anywhere trying to get evening buses to town reinstated from Locharbriggs/Heathhall and their 10000 inhabitants, despite 400 strong petition. Stagecoach blamed the Council and vice versa. Stagecoach said it would be a new service and would have to go through long winded procedures even though it is the same service there before Covid.
The Transport Secretary said we need to go through the Scottish Transport Users Group so that will be next.