A village with no shop, no post office and no GP surgery now looks likely to lose its lifeline bus service.
Outraged residents of Auchtertool fear they will be left stranded if Stagecoach goes ahead with plans to axe the X26, the only bus to serve the community on the outskirts of Kirkcaldy.
More than 1300 people have already signed an online petition launched by worried 17-year-old student Abbi Gallagher, amid concerns villagers will become isolated.
Many residents are either elderly or students and rely on the bus for many simple daily tasks.
Abbi, who studies in Cupar, faces having to drop out of her course in animal care unless she is prepared to pay £10 for a taxi to Kirkcaldy railway station every day.
And pensioners without cars fear being unable to access vital services unless the route is maintained.
The X26 from St Andrews to Glasgow currently operates via Kirkcaldy, Auchtertool and Halbeath park and ride every hour.
Stagecoach plans to withdraw it and operate as X27 via the A92, Chapel and Victoria Hospital, missing out Auchtertool completely.
The company will be consulting on proposals to amend 26 routes at a number of events this week and there is also an online consultation form which will be open until Friday June 24.
Abbi said the loss of the Auchtertool service would affect everybody who lives there.
“I will now be unable to make my way to college as it is the only way to get to Kirkcaldy to get a train. So there goes that education,” she said.
“Elderly people use this service most frequently to get their weekly shopping or simple things like milk or bread.
“How are these people going to get to the doctors or hospital if needed? Walk?”
Local politicians are working hard to persuade Stagecoach to retain the service.
Fife Council has urged as many people as possible to look at Stagecoach’s proposals and have their say by either taking part in a consultation event or filling in the online survey.
Douglas Robertson, commercial director with Stagecoach, said the changes would increase the frequency of services between north Kirkcaldy and Glasgow.
“We appreciate our proposals impact Auchtertool,” he said.
He added: “Our analysis shows there are very low passenger numbers using our services in Auchtertool.
“Unfortunately, the reality is that we are faced with a situation where factors outside our control mean there are less passenger journeys and less money to pay the costs of running these bus services.”
Stagecoach and Fife Council will meet locals in Auchtertool’s village hall on Tuesday at 6pm to discuss the proposals.
Fife Council ‘disappointed’
Kennoway will be left with no direct bus service to Kirkcaldy if the Stagecoach proposals go ahead.
The bus firm has said the fares taken no longer cover the cost of running the number 41 Cupar to Kennoway to Kirkcaldy route.
Under the plans, the two-hourly service will be withdrawn and Kennoway and Windygates passengers wishing to travel to Kirkcaldy will have to change buses in Leven.
Local councillor David Alexander said the impact would be significant, particularly for people with hospital appointments in Kirkcaldy.
“People will have to take two trips. That means a journey of 31 minutes becomes one hour and four minutes and the price of £4.20 goes up to £5.80,” he said.
“It gets even sillier because the council is keeping the subsidised route after 6pm.
“What’s the point of being able to come back after 6pm if you can’t get there in the first place?”
Mr Alexander said the final insult was Stagecoach would not be holding a consultation event in Kennoway and people would have to go to Leven to have their say.
Fife Council has urged as many people as possible to make their views known.
Transportation spokesman Councillor Pat Callaghan said: “We’re disappointed Stagecoach is proposing to withdraw a number of its bus services.
“Some villages may be left with no bus service at all.
“I strongly encourage Fife bus users to look at Stagecoach’s proposals and either fill in the online survey or attend one of the consultation events this week.
“It’s important everyone affected has their say before the bus company finalise their new timetables.”
Mr Callaghan added that with current budget restrictions it would not be possible for the council to replace the commercial services withdrawn by Stagecoach.
