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Mains Estate Bus Service

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BUS SERVICE SPECIAL

Your questions answered...

In our June issue of the Newsletter we reported on the AGM and advised on the imminent start of a bus service through the estate. The service has provoked a great deal of reaction both to the association and to the local press. As a result we feel that it is important to explain to you what has been happening.

A number of residents were extremely concerned about the rerouting of the 119 and 109 services through the estate and organised a petition (without contacting the association) to the operator, First Bus Glasgow, in an attempt to prevent the service. People from over 200 homes signed. Since then the association and representatives of the petitioners had a lengthy meeting with the managing director and marketing manager of First Glasgow which all felt was constructive. In this newsletter we’ve tried to answer your questions and explain the position of both the Association and the undertakings we received from the bus company

How can the bus company do this?

Since bus deregulation in 1986, commercial bus companies choose the routes they decide are profitable to them. They are not required to consult anyone other than the Traffic Commissioners in Edinburgh. The traffic commissioners have very limited powers to prevent services on safety grounds alone. The Association wrote to the commissioners who confirmed that they had no power to prevent or vary this particular request. First Glasgow had informed Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) of their intentions but was not aware of the existence of the residents’ association The association became aware of the plans shortly before our AGM in June, where we presented the plans to you. The SPT had also failed to inform our local councillor, Eric Gotts, who first heard of the service from the Association.

What does the Residents Association think?

The Residents Association has to represent everybody’s point of view. There is no doubt from our previous research and the AGM that there is a significant demand for some kind of public transport. Nevertheless the scale of the operation took us all by surprise, and we have great sympathy for those who for whom the arrival of buses has compromised their quality of life. Our approach to the bus company was to seek concessions on frequency and vehicle type and to seek consultation in future before changes are made. We also pressed them, and the Council, to ensure that our roads remain accident-free.

Is the Castlemains and Douglas Muir Road safe for buses?

The Council’s opinion is that it is. They have however, have undertaken to carry out a review of the route during operation of the service to consider whether any measures are required to assist in the safe flow of traffic. First Glasgow felt that it was unlikely that buses would exceed 20 mph and that any resident who sees a bus speeding should report it to their customer services department, and action will be initiated against the driver. Similarly if buses are “killing time” by waiting in the street and not at the terminus, report them. First Glasgow’s customer services number is 423 6600.

Buses are one thing, but double deckers are quite another!

One thing on which everybody agreed. The service provided over the first two weeks was completely unsatisfactory given that double decker and older generation single decker buses were used. First Glasgow undertook to ensure that, except under exceptional circumstances, newer generation – quieter and more environmentally friendly – single decker buses would be used on the route. First Glasgow has also undertaken to review measures to introduce smaller vehicles on the route during evening and Sunday service periods reducing the visual impact.

I get the bus in Hunter Road – we’ve lost our quarter hour service for this?

First Glasgow is to consider ways of reinstating the service along Hunter Road that has been decreased by the current use of the Craigton Road terminus. A request was made that this be considered as a priority.

The buses from the town are confusing. Some say Baljaffray, some Clydebank. And they never seem to leave on time?

First Glasgow has undertaken to ensure that Milngavie is prominently displayed on destination boards to reduce passenger confusion and will review the effectiveness of their timetabling to ensure that the published timetable can be achieved.

Can it really be viable for the bus company to run all these buses early in the morning and late at night?

First Glasgow agreed to review the use of the bus service with respect to the daily start and finish times of the service. If people aren’t using them, they won’t run them.

But there’s just too many buses! Why not reduce it to an hourly service outside peak hours?

This was the Association’s preferred compromise. However First Glasgow told us that they believe that a service frequency of less than half an hour would be off-putting to travellers and very inefficient for their vehicle use. They endeavour to keep timetables simple and minimise route variations. They did however agree to rule nothing out.

So when could they make these timetable changes?

First Glasgow requested that they assess the potential of changes to the registered service over a reasonable period once schools have restarted. Any changes to the routing or scheduling of the service will require to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner’s office and be subject of a 42-day notice period before any change can be started. In practice then, it would probably be late autumn.

And will they let us know what they’re going to do in future?

First Glasgow have undertaken to inform the petitioners group and the association with the results of their assessment of the route once it has been running for a few weeks. Any future changes will be notified at the very least to Councillor Gotts, who sits on the association committee. The senior First Glasgow managers will be willing to come to a public meeting later in the year to discuss their ongoing plans with you.

Couldn’t the council just provide an hourly minibus to the station?

The residents’ association had been corresponding with SPT to see whether a limited connecting service, subsidised by the transport authority would be possible. The SPT did discuss the proposal before First Glasgow’s plans had been announced. They declined however to offer one feeling that most of the estate was close enough to other bus stops. Now that a commercial operator has designated the estate as a commercial route, the SPT are prevented by law from offering any subsidised service. 119 and 109 buses do connect with the railway at Hillfoot station and theUnderground at St. Georges X.

Why are there no bus stops?

The location of bus stops is still being finalised at the time of writing due to short notice to the council. the Association and the petitioners group are involved in the siting.

I’d use the bus but I haven’t got a timetable…

Timetables are available from Milngavie Library, transport offices and from First Glasgow on 423 6600. A copy will be posted on the information page soon. In brief:

Journey times shown are 119 services and 109 services routed via Castlemains Road and Hunter Road. Journey time to Hope Street is about 40 minutes, to Clydebank about 30 minutes.