Council pursues 'best outcome' for bus services

The new leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) has said the local authority is "working hard" to safeguard the future of bus services in the region.

It comes after Stagecoach announced it would end almost all of its services because they were "no longer commercially viable".

Stephen Thompson, who took over as council leader on Monday, said they were seeking the "best possible outcomes for our communities".

He promised to give a "comprehensive update" via the council website early next week.

Stagecoach has said that during the tender process to run new services from August, it found a liability clause that was "far in excess of the value of the contracts".

It has told DGC that it would drop all but two of its services in the region.

The council has not confirmed if another operator will take over the routes and said negotiations over the tender process were "ongoing and confidential".

The situation has led to concern from communities that services could be lost.

BBC news website reader Andrew Martin said the impact of losing the service from Dumfries to Stranraer was "unthinkable".

"There are no alternative bus services on the A75 to Twynholm, Gatehouse, Creetown, Newton Stewart and beyond to Stranraer," he said.

"The council or one of the bus companies will have to step in.

"If this service is withdrawn, my options to travel west of Kirkcudbright will be taken away - and anyone who does not drive a car and lives along the route will be completely isolated."

The Unite union has also sought an urgent meeting to discuss the impact on staff at depots in Dumfries and Stranraer.

Mr Thompson said he understood the concerns of people living in the region and wanted to reassure them that the council was working with transport body SWestrans for the best outcome.

"We are currently engaged in a complex but crucial live tender process to reprocure both home-to-school transport and the subsidised local bus network," he said.

"This is a significant undertaking, designed to provide stability for operators and, most importantly, reliable, long-term connections for our residents from August 2025."

He said that although the procedure must remain confidential, he wanted to be "absolutely clear" that they were prioritising the continuation of these essential services.

"We are committed to ensuring all home-to-school transport is in place for the new academic year, and our council and SWestrans are committed to providing a well-connected local bus network," he said.

"I appreciate everyone's patience as we navigate these intricate discussions.

"I can confirm that the council will be in a position to provide a comprehensive update on the situation on the morning of Monday 23 June, through the latest news section of the council website.

"I would urge members of the public to please look out for this important announcement."