THE FIRST stage of a £300,000-plus investment in bus services in Forfar was unveiled yesterday.

Part of the cash has been used to buy two new Optare Solo low-floor, wheelchair accessible vehicles to operate new services starting on Monday.

It follows a successful bid for bus route development grant funding by Angus Council and Strathtay Scottish to improve services.

Council infrastructure services convener Councillor David Selfridge welcomed the initiative at a ceremony in the town.

“The introduction of the Optare Solo vehicles is very welcome as they extend the travel options of wheelchair users and other people with mobility difficulties,” he explained.

“The new half-hourly service between the town centre and Orchardbank is also a welcome addition to the Forfar timetable, particularly for those working in the new business park.”

Jim Gardner, commercial director of Strathtay Buses, said the improvements were possible thanks to the partnership between the firm, Angus Council and the Scottish Executive.

“We are confident that the new routes will meet the needs of the local community in improving public transport links in the town,” he added.

The project will see £128,000 of the grant spent on it this year, with £108,000 next year and £70,000 in 2007-2008 being used to support the running of the services and extend them.

Main changes to services from Monday are:

*Services 23 and 24 will now link Westfield and Gallowshade with Forfar town centre, Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre, Tesco and other retail outlets on Queenswell Road and Craig O’Loch Road. The daytime frequency of two buses an hour carries on, with one bus each hour travelling clockwise and one travelling anti-clockwise around Forfar. Additional buses also operate between 5.30 am and 9 am.

*Services 23A (Lilybank) and 23B (Lunanhead) will run hourly during the main part of the day. Service 23A is also extended to serve Toll Crescent and Lilybank Resource Centre.

*New service 23C runs half-hourly between East High Street and Orchardbank.

Details of the new and revised services are contained in the Forfar town services timetable, available from Forfar Library, tourist information office, council offices at St James House, County Buildings and The Cross, and from Strathtay Scottish.