Andrew has expressed his disappointment that Stagecoach have made further cuts to services in West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine. This follows the Scottish Government ending the Network Support Grant on the 31st March. At the time of the announcement Andrew criticised the decision as both the UK and Welsh Governments had extended their respective schemes.
Discussing the announcement Andrew said: “Once again the people of Scotland are being disadvantaged compared to the rest of the UK because of the SNP/Green devolved administration.”
Prior to the announcement Andrew wrote to both Stagecoach and Aberdeenshire Council to urge them to protect existing rural networks and the need for the reintroduction of routs to a number of communities.
The latest news that the council will be ending its funding for certain routes will be another hammer blow for communities.
“This decision is no doubt connected to the constraints on local government budgets as a result of the actions taken by the SNP Scottish Government.”
“It is baffling that the Scottish Government, made up of parties that are determined to get people out of their cars, are not doing more to support rural bus services. Considering that the Scottish Government were so keen on providing free bus travel to young people it is crazy that they have done nothing to ensure that there are buses to use.”
Andrew said that he will continue to work with local councillors and Stagecoach to see what can be done to protect services. He also added that he, along with colleagues in Holyrood, will keep pressuring the Scottish Government to provide support to councils to protect bus routes.
