Petitions launched to save ‘vital’ Fife bus service

Bus operator Stagecoach is under increasing pressure to change its plans to axe the 23 service, which runs between St Andrews and Stirling, and links many rural villages in the area.

Stagecoach said it had made the decision because the service had been “underperforming”, with plans to stop running the service from September 28.

The Scottish Greens have now launched a petition which calls on Stagecoach to scrap its plans.

“The 23 bus is a lifeline service serving many communities across north Fife and Clacks,” said Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell.

“Stagecoach should be working with these communities to build up patronage rather than quietly planning to slash the service.

“It was always a concern that bus companies would use the Covid crisis as an excuse to strip away their less profitable services, but public transport must serve the public need especially as we build the economy back in the months ahead. I would urge everyone to write to the chief executive of Stagecoach to keep the 23 bus serving communities.”

Councillor Andy Heer, who represents the Howe of Fife and Tay Coast ward, has also started a petition.

He said many residents rely on the service to access shops, healthcare, schools and leisure facilities.

Councillor Heer said: “It’s not something one council can do on its own – there’s no point in Fife Council promoting a service which turns round at the council boundary, the service needs to go the whole distance.

“Losing the 23 service will leave many communities all along the route with little or no bus service and no access to health centres, shops or leisure facilities. Many people use it to get to work or study and many families rely on it for children to get to school.

“The 23 is a strategic service running east-west across this part of Scotland and now is not the time to be cutting key services that will impact recovering local economies and add to the environmental impact of transport.

“Local authorities should direct some of the cash made available from the UK and Scottish governments to keep the number 23 running and spend the money in a way that genuinely matters to local communities.

“To this end I have set up an online petition asking the councils of Fife, Perth & Kinross, Clackmannanshire and Stirling to work with Stagecoach to find a solution to retain this important service.”

Responding to concerns raised last week, 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”.

Cllr Heer’s petition is at www.change.org/KeepThe23Service.

The Scottish Greens’ petition can be found at greens.scot/SaveTheNo23Bus.