Highlands bus services in danger
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• Sixteen bus services in Inverness-shire and six on the island of Skye, are in danger of the axe because they are running at a substantial loss. Highland Omnibuses Ltd, the operator, member of the Scottish Bus Group, told the county roads committee at Inverness last week that there had been a steady loss of passengers through the increase in private cars.
In addition, there had been a heavy inciease in operating costs which had compelled Highland Omnibuses to carry out a reappraisal of the situation, and take steps to reduce operating costs. These amounted to 20.75p a mile, while on some routes the income was about 7p a mile.
The company said that unless there was a marked increase in passengers on the 16 routes, it would be necessary to reduce the frequency of the services or withdraw them altogether.
Highland Omnibuses suggested that the county council could assist in maintaining the unremunerative services by subsidizing them.
The roads committee accepted a suggestion by Lord Burton, chairman, to meet officials of the Highlands and'Islands Development Board dealing with transport to discuss the problem.
Lord Burton also said, however, that while Highland Omnibuses had listed the routes which were losing money, they had not told them about those which were paying. Where David MacBrayne was concerned, he said, they had great difficulty in getting any figures at all.
In the south-west, however, the 32 rural bus services which the Western SMT Co proposes to axe early next month may be reprived. The convener's committee of Dumfries county council has reconsidered its attitude towards the provision of subsidies. and a recommendation to save the services is being put before an emergency meeting of the full council this week.
The committee, which had previously come out against subsidies, had a change of heart after a 90-minute special meeting in Dumfries. An official said: "This was in the light of information that the matter was not to be dealt with at national level but would remain one for local determination."