No reprieve for residents hit by First Bus service cuts

First Bus has confirmed that it has no plans to reinstate the previous Number 4 and 4A bus routes in Eastwood.

In October 2016, First Glasgow announced that it was reducing its bus service in Eaglesham by removing the Polnoon Street and Montgomery Street legs of the 4A route.

The company also announced that the Number 4 Bus Service would terminate at the Avenue Shopping Centre and no longer service the west side of Ayr Road.

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Jackson Carlaw MSP met First Bus soon after the changes had been introduced to emphasise the detrimental impact the reduced services would have on his constituents, especially elderly people who were left with no option but to walk the steep hill at Polnoon Street.

At the meeting First Bus did undertake to review the 4A and its operational experience after six and 12 months.

Mr Carlaw said: “I remain disappointed with the decision by First Bus to reinstate neither of these services, which are of key importance to the good people of Eaglesham and Newton Mearns.

“In understanding the experience of local residents, I have attempted myself to walk the steep hill on Polnoon Street carrying shopping in all weathers and it is not a task for the faint-hearted!

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“I shall continue to robustly pursue this matter with First Bus whose cuts are affecting the lives of my constituents.”

Duncan Cameron, operations director for First Glasgow, said: “I can confirm our decision at that time to cease travelling to the terminus via Polnoon Street and Montgomery Street was part of a package of measures at both ends of the route that were put in place with a view to addressing the cost of operating the service.

“We regret any inconvenience that has been caused by the changes we made to the service, but at this stage, we don’t have any plans to reinstate the routes previously followed by the service in Eaglesham, Newton Mearns or Knightswood.”