People-power has won the day in the row over Carse of Gowrie bus services.
Stagecoach East Scotland has been persuaded to increase the number of services to customers between Perth and Dundee.
The strength of feeling was demonstrated at a public meeting in Invergowrie, attended by more than 100 local people concerend about cuts to the number 16 service.
The issue has been a bone of contention since the bus company announced in June it was set to change services along the Carse, including those to Kingoodie and Invergowrie.
Fiona Ross, chair of the Carse of Gowrie sustainability group, wrote to Stagecoach to express concerns and after a survey showed 63% of residents living in the Carse see public transport as a key way to increase sustainability in the area.
Douglas Robertson, commercial director of Stagecoach East Scotland, said the changes originally proposed were designed to offer the “widest bus network possible” for as many people as possible.
“However, following customer feedback during our consultation period in June, we have addressed a number of customer concerns as best we can and have worked with Perth and Kinross Council’s public transport unit to provide some improvements to our plans.
“At the public meeting we discussed the proposals for services in the Carse area including the gaps in the peak journeys on service 16.
“Although we are limited in resources to provide additional journeys, we recognise the need to ensure our services meet the needs of as many customers as possible and appreciate the findings from the Carse Community Sustainability e:survey.
“Since this meeting, we have been able to add additional journeys to and from Perth in the morning and evening peak which should now resolve these concerns.
“New timetables for the August 15 changes are available at stagecoachbus.com and timetable leaflets will be available by Monday, August 8.”
St Madoes resident Catherine Smith said: “We’re grateful to have some morning and evening bus runs reinstated, but we are definitely very unhappy that members of our community residing or working along the Glendoick to Inchmichael stretch of the A90 have been cut off without any thought for their safety, or ability to access vital services in Perth and Dundee as well as their workplaces.”
