Councillors in Midlothian are calling for the return of a rural bus service amid claims it has left people ‘cut off’.
Midlothian Labour Councillors Derek Milligan and Russell Imrie have called on Lothian Buses to urgently review future bus provision for the communities of Bonnyrigg, Poltonhall and Rosewell, after the withdrawal of the service in February this year.
Lothian Buses insist there is not enough demand for the service to cover its costs and the changes made were driven by customer demand.
However Councillors Milligan and Imrie say the loss of the 46 service has left many residents without any practical means’ to access the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Midlothian Community Hospital, out-of-hours GP services and major supermarkets.
In a letter to Lothian Buses they say the impact is being felt most acutely by NHS staff and people who rely on public transport for work, healthcare and day to day living.
And they call on the company to sit down with them to discuss the issue and review the decision to axe the service.
Councillor Milligan said: “The removal of the 46 has created real barriers for people across Bonnyrigg, Poltonhall and Rosewell. Residents are telling us they feel cut off from vital services, from hospital appointments to visiting relatives or simply getting to work.
“Many NHS staff have told me they had moved home to this area as it had a direct bus service to the RIE and community hospital. This situation is not acceptable and must be addressed urgently.”
The councillors have called on the bus company to reinstate the 46 service, even if on a restricted basis, extend the 39 service into Rosewell, with increased frequency to meet local demand and introduce a direct route from Rosewell through Poltonhall and Bonnyrigg to the Royal Infirmary, aligned with staff start and finish times and hospital visiting hours.
Councillor Imrie said: “These are reasonable, workable proposals that would make a real difference to residents who currently feel abandoned by the recent changes. We want to work constructively with Lothian Buses to find solutions that restore confidence in local public transport.”
A spokesperson for Lothian Buses said: “Lothian is committed to delivering reliable, accessible and cost-effective bus services across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
“As a wholly commercial operator, our decision to implement network changes is driven by detailed analysis of data and evolving travel patterns, helping to ensure our services remain viable.
“We will continue to monitor the revised services and listen to community feedback as we consider further improvements to connectivity across the wider bus network.”
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
