Axing a bus service which links Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells hospital would be a “huge blow” to health staff and patients, a councillor has warned.
Perth Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson has attacked Stagecoach for considering the withdrawal of the X8 bus service which runs between PRI, Perth city centre, Ninewells, Dundee city centre and Arbroath.
The measure is currently being consulted on as Stagecoach maintain usage of the service is “very low”, something Mr Wilson disagrees with.
“This new service was introduced by Stagecoach on a commercial basis last summer, it has hardly had time to settle in,” said the councillor.
“Main beneficiaries of the service have been hospital visitors, patients and staff.
“The proposed slashing of the service completely is a huge backward step.
“If this cut goes ahead, we will be back to only the X7 service between PRI, Perth city centre and Ninewells.
“The X7 buses are completely unsuitable for these journeys, containing only two tiny lower floor seats, a narrow twisting stair, hopeless accessibility for wheelchairs and pushchairs and have reduced many passengers to tears because of their inadequacies.
“This is a huge blow for people with disabilities, visual impairment, physical and mental health issues, young mums, hospital visitors, hospital staff and I totally deprecate Stagecoach for proposing to withdraw the service.”
Mr Wilson has written to the company calling for the service to run a full year to find out the volume of summer traffic.
Douglas Robertson, commercial director, Stagecoach East Scotland said withdrawing the X8 was part of ongoing network reviews.
“We have found that usage of these journeys is continually very low, despite various marketing efforts including promotional £5 day return fares, to increase usage,” he said.
“Our revisions propose that the coastrider X7 route will be adapted to serve Glendoick Garden centre to retain this stop. Services 16 and 39 will be revised with frequencies combined to offer a through service from Arbroath to Ninewells every half hour, with alternate journeys continuing to Perth and Perth Royal Infirmary to ensure that low floor links to the hospital sites remain. ”
The public can provide their feedback on the proposals at www.stagecoachbus.com until Friday March 23.
