Politicians from across Renfrewshire have stepped up pressure on McGill’s Buses as they prepare to axe bus services in two Renfrewshire villages.
SNP councillors, as well as an MSP and MP, met with McGill bosses on Friday morning while Labour held a public rally in Linwood. An online petition was launched, which so far has garnered nearly 2,500 signatures.
If the plans go ahead on 26th March, Service 19, which runs between Paisley, Houston, Bridge of Weir and Johnstone and Service 8, between Linwood to Johnstone will end. As a result, Bridge of Weir and Houston will be left without a direct bus service to Paisley or Inchinnan, meaning you would have to travel to Johnstone or Linwood to board a bus.
SNP MSP Tom Arthur, MP Gavin Newlands along with Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch Cllr Emma Rodden, Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank Cllr Natalie Don and Audrey Doig, councillor for Houston, Crosslee and Linwood met with McGill’s Managing Director, Ralph Roberts.
Renfrewshire News broke the news last week after Cllr Don spoke to us about the cuts and pledged to secure a meeting with McGill’s. MSP Tom Arthur arranged a meeting and invited along local councillors as well as Gavin Newlands, the MP for some of the affected areas.
Tom Arthur said the talks were constructive and they were actively pursuing options to preserve the services.
Councillor Don, said: “I will be holding further discussions with both SPT and McGill’s in the coming weeks and will do everything in my limited power to ensure that the best solution for local people is found.
“I have already had numerous complaints about the plans to end services 8 and 19 and the impact that this is going to have on a vast amount of people across Renfrewshire. I want to reassure everyone who may be affected by these changes that it remains my priority to maintain the services as they are and minimise the impact on local residents.”
Photo: Cllr Don will be holding further discussions with SPT and McGill’s
Cllr Emma Rodden, said: “A very productive meeting this morning at McGills following their announcements to cease the operation of Services 8 & 19. McGills are keen to work with us and SPT towards a resolution which is effective for all the communities currently relying on these services.”
Local campaigner, Robert Innes recently launched an online petition asking for McGill’s to reverse their decision.
Robert told Renfrewshire News: “I thought that a petition could be used by our local representatives and community groups as a way to show SPT and McGill’s how vital these services are for our towns and villages”
“I need the bus to get to and from work and without it, I dread to think of the trip home at night”
Meanwhile, Labour campaigners, including Alison Dowling and Jim Sheridan, councillors for Houston, Crosslee and Linwood attended a rally outside the Tweedie Hall in Linwood on Friday afternoon.
They organised a public rally to give local people a chance to voice their concerns over cuts. The councillors claim they have been inundated with constituent concerns that an area the size of Houston and Crosslee will have virtually no public transport link.
The Councillors have written to Ralph Roberts, McGills managing director to express their concerns and have requested that the decision to cut the buses is reversed.
Councillor Dowling, said, “Losing these buses will remove the only public transport link from Houston and Crosslee to Paisley, the link for people who work in Paisley and for those attending the RAH. The service also provides a link for workers at the Inchinnan Business Park. The public transport link to Johnstone will become severely limited, including the vital link to Johnstone Train Station. The elephant in the room also needs to be addressed.
“Why are McGills allowed to operate in such a self-serving fashion? They appear to move into an area, then put up fares and cut services. We want the Scottish Government and the Traffic Commissioner to call this behavior to account”.
Photo: Labour Councillors organised a public rally to give local people a chance to voice their concerns over cuts to McGills bus services. Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Labour
Councillor Jim Sheridan added: “The irony is, in Houston, Texas you can fly shuttles to the moon. In Houston, Renfrewshire, you can’t get a bus to Paisley. We ask local people to contact their MSP’s and the Traffic Commissioner to lodge their protest.
“Get your friends and family to support this effort too. We need to ask our elected representatives why our communities are being exposed to these bus route monopolies. De-regulation was supposed to give us more choice. Instead we’ve got no choice, and no buses either if you rely on the No 8 and 19”.
Councillor Scott Kerr, Scottish Conservative for Houston, Crosslee and Linwood, said: “This is a vital transport link for many people, and there will be many worried about how they will now get to work. Cars and taxis aren’t an option for those on tight budgets.
“I have already raised this matter with McGills, but as yet have received no response. Both myself and my colleague Cllr MacLaren are looking to meet with the bus company soon to try and find a way to minimise the disruption and make sure people can still get about easily.”
If you wish to sign Robert’s petition, it can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/mcgills-buses-save-the-mcgills-no-19-no-8-services-in-renfrewshire.