Local's "Anxiety Through The Roof" as Bus Operator Axes all Services in West Lothian

The Scottish government's being urged to step in to save bus routes in West Lothian - as McGills Eastern Scottish prepares to pull all services from December 2nd.

80 per cent of bus services in West Lothian are commercial - Tony Boyle is a Labour Councillor for Broxburn - he says if the government doesn't find extra funding, many residents could be left without access to public transport:

"It's going to take an injection of millions of pounds"

"Without the resources, there is no council in Scotland who could backfill commercial bus services, it's going to take an injection of millions of pounds to provide us with enough budget to run buses similar to the commercial operators"

West Lothian Council is calling for an immediate review - after local bus operator McGills Eastern Scottish announced plans to axe all services from the start of December.

Executive councillor for the Environment, Tom Conn added: “This is clearly going to cause significant disruption to those that use the bus network in West Lothian and it is very sad news for those that work for McGills Eastern Scottish. This is as significant blow for bus users locally, and it highlights the major problems that many commercial operators are experiencing across Scotland."

“It has been very obvious for a long time now that there is not enough resources within the bus industry in Scotland to provide the same level of services that were previously provided.

“Less bus users, increasing costs and driver shortages has led to West Lothian’s commercial bus network being reduced significantly in recent years."

“I’m sure we all hope that other commercial bus providers will look to pick up some of these bus routes from 4 December, but that is a decision for them.

"If I can't get to work how do I hold down a job? If I've not got the job, how do I pay my bills?"

The company - whose reliability in the area has already been subject to criticism online - has been accused of having "no consideration" for the community. Diane Hamilton relies on the bus for her regular commute from Whitburn to St Johns Hospital in Livingston - she says her "anxiety's through the roof" due to the uncertainty:

"I get the feeling that my work are getting a bit fed up with me coming in and saying 'oh the bus was late again', but I don't drive, there is no other way for me to get to work, and if I can't get to work how do I hold down a job? If I've not got the job, how do I pay my bills?"

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “We note the decision taken by McGills, which we understand is driven by low use of the services, coupled with the difficulties in recruiting bus drivers. The majority of bus services in Scotland are operated on a commercial basis by private bus companies in the open de-regulated market. The power to subsidise services deemed as socially necessary sits with local authorities.

“We are committed, alongside operators and local authorities, to improving services to ensure everyone has accessible public transport, regardless of geographic location. There is a broad package of long-term investment in bus, including through the National Concessionary Travel Schemes, Network Support Grant, Community Bus Fund, and for bus priority infrastructure.

“There is also an enhanced suite of options we are introducing for local transport authorities to improve bus services according to their local needs, including formal partnerships, franchising and running their own bus services.”

We've approached McGills for comment.