Stagecoach says it will continue to review its timetables after criticism from residents in an Angus village.
However, the firm defended its ”difficult” decision not to stop in Inverkeilor stating it was important to strike a balance between the number of stops and an acceptable journey time.
Locals are up in arms because the new X7 Stagecoach coastal route between Aberdeen and Dundee does not stop in the village. They are unhappy at watching the ‘superbus’ drive past on the A92 and stop at Marywell a quarter the size of Inverkeilor.
They have made complaints to local councillor Bob Spink who this week likened Inverkeilor to the mythical Brigadoon because of the loss of the service coupled with the closure of their ”lifeblood wee shop”.
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said: ”When planning any timetable, some difficult decisions have to be taken about the locations that can be served.
”It is important to strike a balance between the number of stops and an acceptable journey time. For that reason, we took the decision that our new X7 service between Dundee and Aberdeen would not serve Inverkeilor directly.
”However, Inverkeilor passengers can use our service 30 to connect at either Arbroath or Montrose to both the X7 and Service 39, providing them with links to Dundee and Aberdeen.
”As you would expect, we constantly keep our timetables under review and will continue to do so in this case.”’Regrettable’Stagecoach’s £1.4m fleet of luxury coaches last month began carrying passengers on the new X7 route.
Mr Spink said commercial viability must be a consideration for Stagecoach, but so must the needs of the public. He said to withdraw or reduce a bus service to rural communities like Inverkeilor was ”ill-thought and regrettable”.
Mr Spink had said: ”With many in the village, including elderly, young, and those simply seeking transport to work, the loss of this vital service coupled with the loss of their lifeblood wee shop, one could not be blamed for likening Inverkeilor to Brigadoon being left to fade away into obscurity unseen by those outside.
”There is much discontent in Inverkeilor village about changes to their bus service and I have had a number of complaints.”
Angus Council will also raise the matter with Stagecoach.
The bus service has also been causing concern for communities in the Mearns because the limited-stop service is unable to serve some smaller villages.
Stagecoach said that due to the size of the coaches and previous problems with parked cars and required manoeuvres in some areas, the X7 will not serve all areas of Johnshaven, Gourdon and Inverbervie but will operate along the main roads as a limited-stop route.
Last month the firm also introduced a connecting route, the 107, which operates hourly between Stonehaven and Montrose serving Inverbervie, Gourdon and Johnshaven.