Local MP David Mundell has called on SPT to make public its plans for the MacEwans route that runs from Dumfries to Edinburgh. Mr Mundell has been contacted by numerous constituents across his constituency which the route largely falls within. Mr Mundell is concerned about any reductions in the current service given that it is used by commuters to get to work and is for many people who live in rural communities the only form of public transport available to them. He also shares in local residents anger at the delay in letting people who rely on the service know what is going on. Mr Mundell is particularly concerned at the lack of consultation following the survey work being carried out, and is asking that the current service is maintained for at least the next 3 months whilst his constituents are consulted. The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP has written to SPT demanding an explanation for the situation and urging SPT to make public its plans for the service when the current contract ends on the 14th of July.
Mr Mundell said: “It is appalling that local people who rely on this service to get to work and meet their basic needs could be given less than a months notice to major changes. This service is vital for the rural communities it servers. Whilst some might argue that the current service is not optimal it is certainly not going to be improved by reducing it.
“This particular service is not just about the number of people who use it on a daily basis but about people in our region having the opportunity to travel to Edinburgh when they need to. At a time when people are being encouraged to use public transport it seems nonsensical to make it more difficult for them to do so.”