Minister rejects call for buses funding

AN APPEAL by a South Scotland MSP for urgent funding to support fragile bus services across Dumfriesshire has been turned down by the Scottish Government.

Following the withdrawal of some services and the scaling back of other bus services, Conservative MSP Craig Hoy asked the SNP for additional financial support for supported bus services.

Instead, SNP Minister Jim Fairlie passed the responsibility back to SNP-run Dumfries and Galloway Council.

He told Mr Hoy: “It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available, including on support for bus services, on the basis of local needs and priorities.”

Mr Hoy’s call for funds came amid widespread concern that some routes are no longer meeting the needs of residents who struggle to get to school, college, work or to hospital appointments.

Residents of Hightae, Lockerbie, Langholm, Closeburn, Sanquhar, Thornhill and Moffat have all raised concerns about bus services following the withdrawal of Stagecoach services in August.

Mr Hoy said: “Providing basic reliable buses for residents across Dumfriesshire should not be such a challenge. The central-belt focused SNP has consistently underfunded councils, particularly those in rural areas, while it wastes millions on pet political projects.

“Rural communities already feel forgotten and by refusing to provide more support for key bus routes the Scottish Government is simply reinforcing this point.

“Bus services are run locally by the SNP council and councils are funded nationally by the SNP Government. It is clear they have abandoned rural Scotland. Dumfriesshire urgently needs a dedicated rural bus fund to prevent the loss of further service.”