McGill's 540 bus service cut opposed by passengers

Operators McGill's are proposing to take the 540 off the road from May 1, citing a rise in costs and a fall in the number of people using the route.

But Gourock councillors Lynne Quinn and Martin McCluskey have had meetings with McGill's and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) as they fight to save the 540, which runs from Clynder Road in Greenock's east end down to Gourock railway station.

Councillor Quinn said: "This bus is used by many members of the community, going from Gourock to the hospital, those staying in Midton to get to the town centre and it also links St Columba’s High School to town and the Fancy Farm area.

"The service links the upper Gourock to the health centre as well.

"We had a meeting with McGill's who told us that user numbers hadn't recovered from pre-pandemic levels.

"They had a pre-Covid grant but this is gone and there has been a 35 per cent increase in costs and numbers haven't recovered, they are at only 80 to 85 per cent.

"But our argument is that we cannot look at just numbers alone, we need to consider the impact of removing this service will have on the community.

"It is an important link from Midton to the main town and to the hospital."

Councillor McCluskey says he shares those concerns.

He added: "These changes are expected to take place on the first of May.

"McGill's can decide whether this service changes, or leave it as it is.

"We are asking McGill's to look again at these changes and the impact it would have on the wider community and the social benefit - and if they don't look again, can SPT step in to help the community.

"This service impacts on many areas of the community, the east end of Greenock and Midton.

"I had one constituent who lives in the east end of Greenock, he doesn't drive and his daughter lives in Gourock and he visits her several times a week.

"This bus is a lifeline for his family."

Passenger Andy Smith, 76, of Tower Drive, pictured, said: "I use the bus to go to the hospital and to the train station.

"I go to the hospital every couple of months and the bus is handy and takes you right to the door."

Gourock Community Council is also opposing the withdrawal.

Chair Hamish McLeod said: "McGill's have told us it's not paying, which means footfall. But that is not taking into consideration the inconvenience it causes for people.

"I think local councillors should call a public meeting and alert people, people power might sway their decision."

Resident James Cormack, who lives in Bute Street, said: "They have already taken the 547 away. I cannot understand why they are doing this. It's terrible."

Elizabeth Clark, 69, from Clynder Road in Greenock, said: "I use the bus three or four times a week and I am not happy about this decision at all, like a lot of residents up here.

"The bus is my lifeline, I visit my sister on the Esplanade who has had a stroke and is suffering from anxiety because of that, so this visit from me is very important.

"I also have other family I visit from all over the area. It gets me out, without that bus I wouldn't be able to see family and friends.

"The elderly and infirm have been forgotten, not everyone has a car or have family to take them about."

An SPT spokesperson said:“Unfortunately SPT does not have the power to stop operators cutting commercial services. We are very disappointed by McGill’s plans to cut 13 per cent of commercial bus services in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde areas.

"While operators have been receiving considerable sums of public money for the last two years, SPT has received no direct financial support from Scottish Government for supported bus services either during or after the Covid pandemic.

“McGill’s claim that SPT has the power and ability to step in with financial support where services are considered to be socially necessary is not the case.

"SPT may have the legal powers to fill gaps left by commercial operators but we simply do not have the funding to do so and to suggest otherwise is wrong. At this time, our budget for supported bus services is severely stretched retaining our existing socially necessary and MyBus services.”

A spokesperson for McGill's Buses said they had nothing to add to their previous comments on the matter, saying they are reacting to changes in the way people travel and rising costs.

The company said: “Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) have the power to step in with financial support where journeys or services are considered to be socially necessary. We have therefore advised SPT of these proposed changes so that they can weigh up potential replacement services.

"We have engaged in dialogue with local political representatives over recent weeks and we will continue to do so in case any additional resources can be found to support certain services."