Ormiston and Pencaitland Community Councils are joining forces to hold a public meeting on Tuesday the 1st of May in Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall, two days before Council elections, inviting sitting and prospective councillors to come and listen to local residents of rural East Lothian.
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The joint meeting will take place on 1st May at 7.30pm in Trevelyan Hall, Pencaitland.
The Community Councils are inviting both sitting and prospective candidates of the Council elections to attend and hear the effects first hand from members of the affected communities.
As Jim Blane, Chair of Ormiston Community Council explains, “We believe that it’s absolutely vital that all our political representatives have a clear understanding of what the removal of bus services would mean to real people of rural East Lothian. We’ve heard lots of welcome noises about what various politicians will do about this situation but our rural communities need to be assured that this is top of the priority list and that there is no-one left stranded without transport and unable to live their normal life when the First Bus service ceases.”
Pencaitland Chair Ralph Averbuch added, “Right now we’re all getting flyers through our doors telling us what each political party might do and criticising the failings of their opponents. What we need to see is joined up thinking where all political factions set aside their narrow party agendas and work together to ensure we have both a short-term solution when First services cease, and a long-term strategy which won’t begin to unravel in the space of one council term. We need imaginative but pragmatic thinking that delivers a lasting and viable bus service to rural East Lothian.”
As well as inviting members of their own communities Pencaitland and Ormiston Community Councils are also encouraging residents of other parts of rural East Lothian who will be affected by the bus service’s removal to attend the event.
Pencaitland Community Council
I would love to attend the meeting this evening and participate what should be a very interesting discussion but unfortunately am unable to be there.
I like many others are concerned at the sudden withdrawal of services by First Group but can understand the decision with the reduction in subsidies and the withdrawal of diesel tax support.
However I think we need to take a realistic and not emotive view for future bus services.There will be those who are looking for improved services but an hourly service to Edinburgh is surely sufficient,and I fail to see why there is currently a half hourly service on Sundays.
I believe the ideal solution would be for Lothian Bus to extend the 44 service hourly past Tranent to Ormiston and Pencaitland which would give a continuation of existing service provision.Other than that surely a circular service linking these villages to Tranent where we could then link into the good Lothian Bus services into Edinburgh.This could be provided by a single bus requiring limited investment.
The suggestion of a council run bus service is surely a non starter and surely just a political points scorer, leave the running of buses to those who know what they are doing.
Dennis Rowe
Hi L
I agree. It’s a big relief that public transport users who rely on this service to get to work or just get around will have something after First pulls out.
But that something needs to be thoroughly scrutinised and we need to ensure that it’s actually fit for purpose for the long term. Right now, personally, I have big doubts about replacing the First service with more of the same.
That’s already proved a failure with sky-rocketing fares and a drop in use as a consequence.
What I want to see is innovative solutions which don’t harp back to solutions that have failed in the past.
That may include a social not-for-profit enterprise as mooted by both SNP and Labour at various times, or a hub and spoke approach to route planning, rather than one bus an hour trailing all the way round the countryside before heading through town.
We’ll just have to see what comes of the rhetoric of all the parties once the election has passed and we know who is calling the shots.
Ralph
I think it is super that the bus service is being saved and think that the level of attention the issue has been given is excellent, both by the local community and by the local council. I’ve relied on the bus many times and feel public transport in our communities should be as accessible as possible for all residents. I’m quite keen on the idea of public transport being not-for-profit.
It would be interesting to hear how the bus can be made a more attractive option for commuters or those who drive into Edinburgh for work? As well, I’d be interested to hear of the potential for better transport links with local rail services.
I just got a flyer through the door telling me that due to SNP action ‘local buses are secured’. Of course it’s timed just days before East Lothian elections decide who’s going to run the local council. It does neglect to mention that the mess with the buses happened under the SNP’s watch. Let’s hope, if they return to power, and there’s every possibility that this may be the case, they do something about the shocking service and back up rhetoric with real and meaningful action. More of the same really will not do.
Equally, if power changes hands, lets hope that we do not see a new administration repeating the short-termist errors of the last few years. Buses are not a luxury but a necessity. Yet running one service to fit all scenarios has clearly failed. People have voted with their feet and walked away from an increasingly erratic and expensive service creating a downward spiral that, not surprisingly, culminated in today’s woeful state of affairs. We really really need fresh approaches and whatever the SNP has come up with to replace First must be seen as an interim stop-gap until a better, holistic, approach to public transport is implemented for rural East Lothian.
Ralph
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I am unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment, but submit a comment below.
I value greatly the bus links to Edinburgh, Haddington and Gifford as well as other East Lothian locations, use them continuously for work-, social- and leisure-related purposes. The prospect, the consequences of a withdrawal of these services do not bear contemplating.
It is vital that arrangements be in place to fill the gap after First pulls out, and, as the press article relays, that a sustainable long-term solution be found.
As a side-note, would there be any way that the services could be made more attractive to people who currently drive around?
John Lanigan
Below is the agenda for next Tuesday’s Public Meeting:
Ormiston and Pencaitland Community Councils
Ormiston and Pencaitland Community Councils have jointly called a Public Meeting to address concerns regarding the local bus service. The meeting will be held in the Trevelyan Hall, Pencaitland commencing at 7.30pm.
Agenda
1. Welcome and Apologies.
2. Introductions.
3. Purpose and Format of Meeting.
4. Presentations.
5. Questions/Observations from the Floor.
6. Consideration of Facilitation Groups.
7. Summary.
Ormiston and Pencaitland
Community Councils
25 April 2012
Hi Philip
Hopefully you, or your colleagues on RELBUS can pop along to the meeting?
Ralph
Rural East Lothian Bus Users has made these same points.
This is a time to work together and find a durable solution.
Keep up the good work.