A five-month battle to save a Perth city centre evening bus service could end in failure due to continued low use.
Perth councillors have been fighting since March to save evening services on routes 5 and 6 which serve Craigie and Moncreiffe.
Stagecoach had announced their intention to withdraw evening services after 7pm and from 6.45pm on a Sunday before a six-month moratorium on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis was agreed.
However, Stagecoach has claimed the service is still not being used in large enough numbers to make it economically viable.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillor for Perth South, councillor Willie Wilson, said: “This was a commercial decision by Stagecoach based on their claim that low usage and lack of income made it uneconomic to continue these services.
“Perth councillors met Stagecoach at the end of March and expressed extreme disappointment and concern at these cuts and the very short notice given for the proposals.
“After heated discussion at the meeting it was agreed to have a six month moratorium on the changes but the vast bulk of the current existing service has been maintained – basically on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis.”
Since March councillor Wilson has been trying to promote use of the services, with support from fellow ward councillors Alexander Stewart, Bob Band and Jock Munro.
Councillor Wilson continued: “The Perth South Community Partnership have distributed over 1600 copies of the current bus timetable with an article encouraging usage of local bus services in their last newsletter.
“In addition, Moncreiffe and Craigie Parish Church have highlighted the matter in their magazine to all church members.
“Other community groups have also been alerted to the situation.”
Local councillors will be meeting Stagecoach in due course to try and agree a way forward and ensure a continuity of service to Moncreiffe and Craigie. Perth and Kinross Council’s public transport unit will also be involved in these discussions.
Stagecoach East Scotland commercial director Douglas Robertson said: “Unfortunately despite the efforts of councillors and the local community to encourage greater use of these journeys, they continue to suffer from very low usage.
“We plan to meet with Perth and Kinross Council officials in the coming weeks to discuss the services in more detail and any conclusions will be communicated to councillors and our customers in due course.”