Inverness pensioner: ‘My life is at the mercy of a bus firm’
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A PENSIONER claims the bus service around her area is terrible and this has resulted in her missing important appointments.
It comes as Stagecoach North Scotland seek feedback on proposed bus timetable changes across the region.
Eighty-year-old Margaret McDonald, of Highfield Avenue, Kinmylies, claims the bus she catches is continuously late, breaking down or does not arrive.
“I’m really very angry,” she said. “I’ve missed quite a few appointments. I have commitments to be in town Mondays and Thursdays for 10am and for the last three weeks the bus hasn’t arrived.
“I have sat there for an hour. And then a week last Saturday I was going out in the evening and I went to get the bus at 4.45pm and it came at 6pm. We have a terrible bus service.”
Mrs McDonald said it was time Stagecoach started to make improvements. This has been going on for a long time now and I hear complaints from other areas of the town. I’m 80, I don’t drive anymore so my life is at the mercy of Stagecoach buses.
“The problem is they’ve got the monopoly. I feel because of this they have become complacent.”
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said: “We would like to apologise to Mrs McDonald for the inconvenience she has experienced when travelling by bus. Unfortunately in the past two weeks we have had a significant increase in gear box, engine, and other major unit failures which has produced challenges for us delivering some service in Inverness.
“We have sourced additional vehicles from other locations to ensure our services are kept to schedule as best we can until the maintenance is completed on our Inverness fleet.
“We understand the frustrations expressed and we would like to reassure our customers that we are working hard to resolve this as quickly as we can. We will endeavour to share any disruption to our services through our Twitter feed: @StagecoachNScot.”
Meanwhile, people are invited to review the timetables ahead of them being finalised by the firm – with changes due to take effect from August 19.
Stagecoach representatives will be available to discuss the proposals at Lochardil Hotel in Inverness from 2pm-3.30pm on June 27 and at Inverness Bus Station from 4pm-6pm on the same day.
Comments should be submitted by June 28 and can be sent to nscotmarketing@stagecoachbus.com
Related article: Stagecoach launches bus timetable consultation with changes across the Highlands including Inverness
