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Fort William bus service reduction 'unacceptable'

Seonaidh MacKenzie
BBC Naidheachdan
Getty Images An aerial view of Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe with Ben Nevis and its neighbouring mountains in the background.Getty Images
A service linking Fort William with Corpach has been reduced in frequency

A reduction in the frequency of a bus service in Lochaber has been described as "unacceptable" by campaigners seeking a return to previous levels.

Buses on the Fort William to Corpach route have been cut from one every 30 minutes to one every hour.

Janis Strachan, who has gathered almost 200 names on a petition calling for the reinstatement of the former service, said people trying to get to work or GP appointments were among those affected.

Highland Council, which contracts Shiel Buses to operate the service, has declined to comment.

Janis is looking into the camera. She is wearing a purple fleece
Janis Strachan has started a petition that calls for the reinstatement of the former service

The service links the village of Corpach to Fort William, about four miles (6.5km) away.

People living in nearby Inverlochy, Claggan, Caol and Banavie are among those who also use the bus to access Fort William's health centre, high school and business parks.

It is also used by people who work at Annat Industrial Estate in Corpach.

Ms Strachan said: "People are really struggling to get about.

"They cannot get to work, they cannot get to the doctors, to the vets, to the dentist.

"You are getting absolutely stuck. To me its absolutely unacceptable."

Rob, who wears glasses, is wearing a black jacket. He is looking into the camera.
Rob Mason said the reduced service had affected the running of his business

She said Highland Council had improved bus services in Inverness, including the launch of new services to the city's retail parks, but had abandoned passengers who lived in and around Fort William.

Rob Mason, who owns MacKleeners Commercial Laundry in Fort William, said there had been an impact on his business.

He said: "We've lost the bus at five o'clock so we are having to let the staff go home half an hour early.

"We've got half the workforce getting the bus so we are losing half an hour per person every day which equates to thousands of pounds of production every week."

Mr Mason, who is wearing a black puffer-style jacket, stands at the controls of a large washing machine. There are white sheets in the machine, and ones next to it.
Mr Mason said about half his workforce relied on the bus service

Wider concerns about the state of transport links through Fort William were expressed in September.

Businesses warned that traffic congestion in and around the town was preventing them from expanding.

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce said getting through the town had been a problem for years but it was now at "crisis point".

The Scottish government said at the time it had plans for improving travel through the town.

Highland Council manages about 300 separate bus contracts across its region.

Earlier this month, it completed a deal to take over an Inverness-based company that provides a significant number of its school buses.

The local authority said buying D&E Coaches would reduce its school transport costs, and also help in its efforts to improve local bus services.

The council spends about £25m a year on school and public transport provision.

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