MSP hits out at Scottish Government and McGill's over bus cuts

Scottish Labour’s Katy Clark has accused the Scottish Government of giving millions of pounds of ‘blank cheques’ to McGill’s and added that private companies ‘should not be allowed to hold communities to ransom over cuts’.

McGill’s last month announced plans to shake-up its local services, which include proposals to discontinue runs such as the 540 from Clynder Road and the X22 to Clydebank.

READ MORE: Major changes to McGill's Inverclyde bus routes and timetables

Ms Clark told the Telegraph that the routes were ‘socially necessary’.

She said: “Local bus services are in crisis, with networks on the brink of collapse and communities losing vital routes.

“McGill’s cites ‘increased costs’, but this comes off the back of receiving blank cheques worth millions from the Scottish Government to run services.

“Private companies should not be allowed to hold communities to ransom over cuts.

“I will be writing to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to ask they step in with financial support to retain these socially necessary routes.

“Whoever takes up the post of Transport Minister this week, the Scottish Government must finally provide the funding and resources needed so councils can bring buses under local control.

“It’s time for bus networks to be run based on need, not on profit, with services protected and fares capped for commuters.”

In response to Ms Clark’s comments, Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill's Group, accused the politician of indulging in ‘fantasy politics’.

He said: "It is really disappointing that Ms Clark has chosen not to enter into dialogue with us first about her concerns but instead criticise our company as a means to promote her own political views."

"As we made clear when we announced the network changes, the Scottish Government provided substantial funding to allow vital bus services with low passenger levels — which became loss-making services — to keep running during the pandemic.

“That is to their credit but that funding is now at an end and passenger numbers on buses and public transport in Scotland have not returned to what they were pre-March 2020.

"That is also coupled with higher costs on every front — fuel, vehicles and wages. We are also impacted by car congestion with a failure by local authorities, including Inverclyde, to prioritise bus travel on our roads and attract more people to leave their car keys at home.  

"Ms Clark may think that we have a blank cheque but that is fantasy politics. 

“I admire her desire to write to-do lists for others and look forward to her shock if or when she has to deliver fiscal responsibility in a decision-making role.

"We fully recognise the impact that service changes may have but McGill's has worked hard to mitigate that wherever possible.

“We are committed to continue delivering a quality public transport network but we need to adapt to the very real financial pressures in place."

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said they were committed to improving local bus services.

They added: “We’ve been engaging with industry through our Bus Taskforce and have been clear that the support provided to transport operators needs to evolve to ensure it remains fit for purpose and is sustainable in the long term.

“The Network Support Grant is intended to keep services more extensive and fares more affordable. Transport Scotland continuously reviews this grant to ensure it continues to provide value for money while we also progress opportunities to improve bus services.

“We are aware of the importance of rural bus services and are committed, in conjunction with 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 Network Support Grant, Community Bus Fund, and over £500 million for bus priority infrastructure, together with the enhanced suite of options for local transport authorities to improve bus services according to their local needs, including formal partnerships, franchising and running their own bus services.

“The Scottish Government is also progressing the Fair Fares Review to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the long-term viability of our public transport system as we recover from the pandemic.”