The clock is ticking for residents in Wormit trying to save their “lifeline” bus service.
The 77B route is among a swathe of routes facing reductions as Stagecoach claims it is no longer sustainable.
The route will see a reduction in the number of buses stopping at Norwood and Crosshill Terrace — the “hilly parts” as Councillor Jonny Tepp described them.
The councillor said many elderly people in that area rely on the bus to get them to medical appointments and the chemist.
The bus operator said it is in talks with Fife Council and insist a final decision has yet to be made.
Newport, Wormit and Forgan Community Council will discuss the issue with Stagecoach representatives next week but the deadline for the online public consultation is this Friday.
Secretary Kate Legg, said: “It is a lifeline to elderly people who live up the hill in Wormit and Newport.
“It stops at the doctor surgery and chemist in Newport and a lot of people rely on that. It is particularity vital this is saved.
“A lot of people who will be affected by the changes do not deal with email so the meeting will be their first chance to speak to Stagecoach about how they feel.
“It’s a shame the public consultation will be finished before we get a chance to meet them, but they have agreed to send two representatives. We hope they will keep their ears open until the meeting.
“We have been around speaking to a people and a lot have said they are going to be there, but we would encourage as many people as possible to come so that the company know it’s not just one or two people that are going to be affected.”
Liberal Democrat councillor for Tay Bridgehead Mr Tepp said: “I have had streams of emails from residents saying the service is a lifeline and it is not slowing down.
“The affected parts of the route are the hilly parts of Wormit and Newport. There are a lot of older people there who need the service and have said it will affect their lives considerably.
“I do feel that Stagecoach could have done more to let people know about the changes and their consultation period. We’ve been around with leaflets, talking to people and posting on social media so people know about it.
“Even though the consultation period will be over, I’m sure they would not send representatives to a meeting just to listen and say ‘that’s interesting, but the public consultation is over’. That would make me angry.”
Douglas Robertson, Stagecoach East Scotland commercial director, said: “We have found that usage of the 75 service is continually very low. Similarly, continued low passenger usage of off peak service 77B journeys means these are no longer sustainable.
“We are currently in talks with Fife Council to assess this situation further. We’ll use customer feedback, coupled with the discussions held with local councillors and from our attendance at the community council meeting next week, to fully analyse all possibilities and revisions, prior to any decisions being made about these services.”
The community council will meet at Blyth Hall, Newport, on March 26 at 7.30pm.
