Campaigner slams launch of bus service in 'affluent' area

The loss of the McGill’s 52 circular has had a "devastating" impact on the town since it was axed two and a half months ago.

Those affected were left dismayed by the local authority’s announcement last week that "a new bus service funded by East Renfrewshire Council" is being launched to connect new homes in Maidenhill with Newton Mearns.

The local authority has, however, insisted that while the council is not usually in a position to provide funding to SPT to help maintain commercial bus services, this new route has been made possible by development contributions secured from housing developers - money which could only be spent on improving amenities there.

READ MORE: Barrhead passengers thank driver of axed 52 bus service

Rena McGuire BEM, who is the founder of Dunterlie Foodshare, told the Barrhead News: “They (the council) couldn’t help us they told us.

“(They said) it was nothing to do with the council and even the Scottish Government couldn't help us according to the transport minister, but now we've got a very affluent area which has now got a new bus route on the other side of the authority.

“I think it's shocking. It's a sad state of affairs that the council can find money for an affluent area.”

In response a spokesperson from the council said: "Bus services in East Renfrewshire are commercial operations and the council is not usually in a position to provide funding to SPT to help maintain these services.

“However, in this particular case, the need for the new subsidised M7 bus route was identified through the masterplan prepared for the new residential area at Maidenhill and only made possible by development contributions secured from housing developers via the planning process.

“The funding is in place until July 2026 and was specifically secured to be spent on subsidising a new bus route to serve Maidenhill."

The 52 service ended at the end of April (Image: Newsquest)

The new hourly M7 bus which started this week will take locals from Maidenhill to Mearns Cross, Westacres Road, Stewarton Road, Patterson Railway Station, Rouken Glen Park, Eastwood Toll, and Whitecraigs Rail Station.

READ MORE: New bus service launched from Maidenhill to Newton Mearns

Prior to the end of the 52, which made 16 stops between Stewart Street, Main Street, Tesco and Barrhead Station, Rena McGuire BEM voiced the importance of the service to residents, particularly the disabled, elderly and families.

She warned that stopping it would leave many unable to do their shopping or access vital services such as the town’s health centre.

Their pleas for reconsideration by McGill’s were unsuccessful, however, and the service was pulled on April 29.

Explaining the withdrawal, McGill’s said the pandemic had resulted in changes to how and when people travel and, more recently, like the wider economy and population at large it has been hit by inflationary pressures, such as fuel, energy, materials and wage costs.

Members of the Dunterlie Foodshare project were among those who called on McGill’s to perform a U-turn over the 52 (Image: Newsquest)

Explaining the impact of the loss of the 52, Rena said some people “had stopped going out” as a result and that numbers were down at the foodshare as some could no longer get there.

“I'm seeing people with disabilities struggling,” she said.

“I saw one of the guys that is disabled (last week) and he was struggling up and down that Main Street with a walking stick and he can barely walk.

“Other people have had to buy themselves scooters."

READ MORE: Barrhead: 'Lifeline' bus service to be axed next month

“We are suffering in the foodshare as well," she added. "We had people who came on a Friday morning by the bus and got the bus back because of the two bags of shopping, but our numbers are down. 

“Every week our numbers are down because people can’t get down anymore. People are having to go without because they’ve not got any transport.”