Sirs,
As we all know depopulation of rural areas is and has been a serious issue over
the years. I find it alarming that the council, obviously, have evidence of a serious
population decline in my neighbouring villages of Knock and Swordale, this has manifested
itself in the halving of the bus service at 0815.
At least Plasterfield are getting a bus service now, in fact they had 2 buses this
morning.
On a serious note I would like to respond to the replies, to the questions
I posed on the new bus timetable, received from Nigel Scott council press officer.
1.
If a "timetable" exists why was the bus I travelled to work on this morning operating
a different route to the timetable issued to the public?
2.What duplication of service
has existed for Knock and Swordale previously? In the past timetables were altered
during school holidays.
3. I am glad that you have cleared up the different modes
of transport that operate from Stornoway to Glasgow and Flesherin.
4. I will ask the
question again. Why are passengers from Lower Bayble being inconvenienced by having
to sit for 15 minutes in Upper Bayble before continuing their journey home from Stornoway?
5.
Again I will repeat a question. Why has it been necessary to bring about the changes
that makes it necessary to change the departure to Bayble from 18.05 to 18.10 ?
6.
Because of the request only nature of the service to many villages during the evening
I am aware of at least one occasion where somebody was not able to travel as they
had been previously able to do.
7. Surely you do not mean that temporary contract
arrangements for the new timetable starting on Friday 27th March were not in place
till the evening of Thursday 26th March.
Is it also true that an offer, made by drivers
representatives to assist in drawing up timetables and rosters, was turned down ?
Finally it is very comforting to know that the Comhairle has never had a policy of
" burying their heads in the sand" and also very reassuring that they are attempting
to provide a "quality and efficient bus service", I wish them luck in their endeavours
to achieve this.
Iain Don Maciver
15 Lower Bayble