The decision by Swestrans to cancel their 9am and 10am town bus services from Carlingwark Street to the Health Centre has caused concern amongst many residents of Castle Douglas.
The decision has been taken without proper public consultation or consideration of the service users. The first Castle Douglas town service will now not arrive at the Health Centre until 10:39, leaving some locals with little alternative transport to the health centre until late morning.
Local MSP Finlay Carson has said the changes are disappointing, making the case that many residents of Castle Douglas rely on this service to reach the health centre on the outskirts of town for morning appointments. He has called on the bus company to immediately reinstate the 9am service ahead of proper consultation with the council and general public over the future timetable.
Commenting, Finlay Carson MSP said:
“I am disappointed that such a decision was made without any form of consultation or consideration of those who rely on these morning services.
“I have written to Swestrans urging them to reinstate the 9am bus service as a matter of urgency, and for proposed future changes to the service to undergo a proper public consultation process with all relevant stakeholders so that we can avoid any disruption to those who rely on this important service.
“When the Health Centre was moved to the outskirts of town concerns were rightly raised over how accessible this would be to some local residents. This bus service was put in place to mitigate the effects of removing the health centre from the town centre and we must not see it begin to be eroded.”
