Kennoway residents urged to speak up to save bus service

Locals in Kennoway are being urged to make their voices heard and stop one of the town's bus services from being axed.
Cllr David Alexander at the bus stop in Kennoway where Stagecoach are cancelling the daily service affecting many people who need to get to appointments in Kirkcaldy. Picture Steven BrownCllr David Alexander at the bus stop in Kennoway where Stagecoach are cancelling the daily service affecting many people who need to get to appointments in Kirkcaldy. Picture Steven Brown
Cllr David Alexander at the bus stop in Kennoway where Stagecoach are cancelling the daily service affecting many people who need to get to appointments in Kirkcaldy. Picture Steven Brown

As part of proposed changes to its timetable across Fife, Stagecoach is considering scrapping the 41 Cupar-Kennoway-Kirkcaldy service - the only direct route to Kirkcaldy from the town.

Now Councillor David Alexander wants locals to contact Stagecoach during the bus company’s consultation period to try and save the service and is calling on Stagecoach to think again.

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He said: “This is a vital service and to consider scrapping it is unacceptable.

“For anyone from Kennoway who works in Kirkcaldy this will add on an hour to their travel time every day.

“The 41 takes 32 minutes costing £4.20, but if the service were to stop they would then have to get two buses at a cost of £5.80, which would take just over an hour.”

Cllr Alexander also pointed out that it is only the 41 day service that is under threat, but the route would still run after 6pm when it is subsidised by Fife Council - a situation he called “farcical”.

“This is not good enough,” he added.

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“Taking away the daytime service but keeping the night time one which will be used less is a slap in the face to all the people who use this bus to get to their place of work.

“I would ask Stagecoach to have a rethink and keep this important service.”

In its consultation statement Stagecoach states: “The fares revenue no longer covers the cost of operation. Our proposal therefore is that the service would be withdrawn.

“This will mean that any current users of the 41 will continue to have access to the two hourly service and can connect at Leven bus station to any of the seven departures each hour to Kirkcaldy.”

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Stacie Gallo, who lives in Windygates, says access to the 41 is crucial for those who travel to Victoria Hospital.

“I am disabled and so is my son so we need to travel to the hospital regularly.

“My mum, who can’t drive, also works at the hospital, so unless she leaves at six in the morning there’ll be no way for her to get there.

“The Victoria provides a vital service and people need to be able to get there to provide it, as well as use it.

“If the 41 is axed I don’t know how I’ll cope.”

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Cllr Alexander is now calling on locals to contact Stagecoach before the consultation period ends.

He said: “People in the town need to make their voces heard and try to save this service.”

Douglas Robertson, commercial director, Stagecoach East Scotland ,said the company were in dialogue with Fife Council regarding the 41 bus.

He said: “We have received feedback from our customers regarding the proposed changes to route 41 in August and can confirm that we are in active discussions with Fife Council regarding a potential solution for this area.”

Any change to the service will take place from August 15. People have until Friday, June 24 to contact Stagecoach by completing a form at www.stagecoachbus.com.