Ross welcomes council commitment to bus service from Garmouth and Kingston

Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative Councillor for Fochabers-Lhanbryde, has welcomed a commitment by Moray Council to continue a timetabled bus service between Kingston, Garmouth, Urquhart and Lhanbryde with Elgin.

Douglas highlighted local concerns with officers when Stagecoach announced they would cease to offer the service. Earlier today Douglas spoke up for the proposal for the council to operate a modified registered bus timetable between the villages and Elgin.

Commenting Douglas said:

"The announcement that the service was being withdrawn came just after the shop in Garmouth closed and there was a real feeling of loss from many people in the community. The bus service was popular with people of all ages and I have received many emails and letters from concerned constituents about the loss of service.

"I immediately spoke with officers who were very open to the possibility of continuing some kind of service and while the proposal at committee does not replicate exactly what was provided by the service 34 route it does provide vital links between the communities and Elgin five times a day and I think this will be very welcome.

"I am sure this service will be supported by local people and hopefully they can see that the council has listened to their concerns and provided an alternative service when many feared that with the Stagecoach route removed, nothing would be put in its place.

“It’s very important that people in the communities served by this route feel they are connected to other parts of Moray and it has been evident how important this service is to so many people. I’m delighted that we will have a council run service starting immediately after the Stagecoach one is removed, so local people will see a continuity of service.”

The current Stagecoach service runs seven return journeys Monday to Friday, six return journeys on a Saturday with no service on a Sunday. This service ceases on Saturday the 16th April.

The Moray Council timetabled service will provide five return journeys Monday to Friday with no service on a Saturday or Sunday. This service will begin on Monday the 18th April.