Home   News   Article

Prospect of Contin bus shake-up sparks fears vulnerable folk will be 'isolated'


By Louise Glen

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Contin bus users are very wary of the proposed bus timetable changes.
Contin bus users are very wary of the proposed bus timetable changes.

VULNERABLE residents of a Ross-shire community could be left socially isolated by a proposed new year shake-up to a bus service which could also prove a hammer blow to people trying to get to work and make vital hospital vital appointments.

And community leaders have voiced fears the planned changes have largely gone under the radar with many unaware until this week of what could be in store.

The timetable proposals will see services on Monday to Friday cut back to 7.12am then 5.02pm and 6.22pm. On a Saturday they are 7.13am, 9.46am, 5.02pm and 6.22pm. At present the service runs to the village 11 times on weekdays, and 13 times on a Saturday.

Lorna Maciver is concerned about getting to work in Dingwall. Picture: James MacKenzie
Lorna Maciver is concerned about getting to work in Dingwall. Picture: James MacKenzie

Lorna MacIver, a support assistant at St Clement's School in Dingwall, said she would have great difficulty in getting to work.

She said: "I use the bus every single day. I am a PSA at St Clement's School in Diingwall and with the changes they are proposing it will make it very difficult to get to work.

"The first bus would get me into Dingwall far too early and the next bus will get me there far too late.

"There used to be a bus at 8am but that is no longer a service bus, and it means that we can not get to work at a reasonable time.

"On the way back from work, it is a bit better. But on a Friday it would mean being in Dingwall for a few hours before I can get home.

"There are no cycle paths, no trains, to taxis and now no buses in Contin. It means that if, like me, you don't drive you are stuck.

"I am a regular bus user and I did not know there was a consultation going on, or I would have said something. :Losing these services is going to make it very difficult for me to get to and from my work. But I love my job and I hope that the bus company will think again."

Miranda Macgillivray: Knock-on impact.
Miranda Macgillivray: Knock-on impact.

Miranda MacGillivray, owner of True Beauty in Strathpeffer said: "I am a business owner in Strathpeffer and I live with my family in Contin. I don't drive.

"The loss of the bus service will have a huge impact on me. If there are no buses to get to and from work then it means I will need to rethink the way the business is run. I do plan to sit my driving test but it will take time.

"I need to get a bus in the morning after my children have gone to school, and yet the proposed bus is at 7.15am, and the school bus does not go until 8am. On the way home the service bus gets in after the children get off the school bus.

"it used to be better when the school bus was the service bus and we could travel together. The changes are making people in Contin, especially older people more and more isolated.

"We need to think about what to do as a whole community."

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach that no decision has been made on the future of the bus service. She said: "We were out at consultation in December which closed on the 19, and we are finalising our plans now to submit to the Traffic Commissioner.

"We will release details of the finalised timetables by Monday January 20, before they begin operation on Monday February 10."


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More