An MSP’s verdict on improved bus services to the Victoria Hospital is: “could do better”.
This week Stagecoach East Scotland announced additional early-morning and evening journeys to the Kirkcaldy hospital. The firm heralded the new £10m Halbeath Park and Ride for opening up new travel connections to the hospital and announced a £2.3m investment in coaches with reclining seats and free WiFi.
But Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Jayne Baxter, at the forefront of a campaign for better bus services to the hospital, in particular from villages in west Fife, said: “It’s all well and good having WiFi and leather seats, and I am sure these will be welcomed by existing users of the services, but my priority is to make sure the routes run in Fife actually meet people’s needs.
“When I held a public meeting a few months ago in Kelty about bus services, a lot of concern was about a lack of direct routes to and from the Victoria Hospital.
“Many people will still be deterred from getting around by bus if you need to change at a bus station or interchange. I know this is a big concern for many elderly passengers, especially if it’s cold and dark.”
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said: “From the feedback gained at the Kelty community meeting, we were able to make significant changes to some local routes, as requested, which provided links to Cowdenbeath and Halbeath Park and Ride and, therefore, onward connections to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh Airport, as well as Victoria Hospital.
“We will continue to monitor our network and endeavour to make appropriate changes wherever possible, based on usage, reliability figures and feedback from our customers.”