Hundreds of Fifers sign petition to save ‘vital’ Stagecoach bus service

Almost 700 people have now backed a petition calling on Stagecoach to drop its plans to stop operating the 23 service, which runs between Stirling and St Andrews.

As well as linking the two towns, the service also serves many small rural villages in north east Fife, including Dairsie and Strathmiglo.

The end of the route will leave people in places such as Gateside isolated, with no way to access, work, education or health services via public transport.

Stagecoach said it had made the decision because the service had been “underperforming”, but MSPs and local councillors have urged the bus operator to keep the service running.

The petition was launched by Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell.

“Private bus companies should not be able to use the pandemic as an excuse to withdraw vital services and leave communities isolated,” he said.

“The 23 is a lifeline route and Stagecoach’s decision to abandon it will leave people in places like Gateside without any public transport at all.

“Removing the service will also eliminate one of the only long distance public transport options connecting Stirling and St Andrews.

“More than ever rural communities need reliable, good quality public transport and they can’t be left to pay the price of Stagecoach’s penny pinching.”

Local councillors have also raised their concerns about the plans.

Howe of Fife councillor Andy Heer said “now is not the time to be cutting key services”, while St Andrews councillor Jane Ann Liston described the service as ‘vital’.

Cllr Liston said customers could end up paying more for multiple tickets, and that the planned changes would not encourage motorists to make the switch to using public transport.

Responding to concerns raised, Stagecoach said the service was “under-performing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and increasing costs mean that this service operates at a significant loss, resulting in us no longer being able to commercially run the service”.

The bus operator also said customers could use different services to complete the route, which would give them the “flexibility to travel more often”.

The 23 bus service is due to end on September 28.

To sign the petition, visit – greens.scot/SaveTheNo23Bus.