A senior councillor has moved to allay fears a vital bus service for the most vulnerable in Fife will be scrapped.
Rumours have been circulating Fife Council’s Dial-a-Ride and Ring & Ride services will definitely be axed as the local authority struggles to plug a £32 million hole in the budget for 2017/18.
The Courier understands bosses have informed drivers who are passing on the news to worried passengers.
This has caused great upset among the passengers, many of whom are elderly or infirm and rely on the service to get out and about.
Having taken several calls from sobbing pensioners, Labour councillor Tom Adams tried to lay to rest fears the vital service would be disbanded, a move which would leave many Fifers isolated in their own homes.
“Someone is spreading it, and doing it maliciously,” he said, adding it would not be part of the Labour group’s budget.
“I have had phone calls from vulnerable people who are upset – one guy was talking about it being a lifeline.
“Some of the most vulnerable people in our society are getting upset about a nonsense story.
“It is not happening,” he claimed.
Fife Council also said no decision had been taken on any service cuts but that management had, as in past years, put forward options to help the council bridge the funding gap.
Ken Gourlay, the head of assets, transportation and environment, said: “No decisions have been taken yet about the future of this or any other service.
“Like previous year, management teams have prepared information on a range of options that could, theoretically, save money within their service areas.
“This is to help councillors consider the budget for the year ahead.
“Some ideas may be progressed, some won’t be and councillors might also put forward different proposals.”
He added the local authority recognised this was a service which was valued by many people, just as all council services and funding were important to someone.
“Unfortunately, as has been well publicised, with demand for so many essential and statutory services increasing we simply don’t have enough money to keep running everything the same way.
“Choices about where to spend and save have to be made and councillors will make these choices in February.