People power has been credited with saving a bus service in Moray that had been due to fall under the axe.
Stagecoach had proposed to pull the 36 route – connecting Findhorn and Kinloss to Forres and Elgin – from May.
The move prompted anger from locals who quickly organised a petition to fight the move and swamped officials at a consultation event in Elgin.
MSPs Richard Lochhead and Douglas Ross also met the company to put pressure on them to retain the lifeline links while Kinloss Barracks warned of a “catastrophic effect” on forces families.
Yesterday the bus firm confirmed connections from Findhorn and Kinloss to Forres would be saved – but warned they could still be withdrawn in the future if they were not well used.
Last night Findhorn community councillor Mo Hyde welcomed the news but was disappointed direct connections to Elgin could not be kept.
She said: “I’m very pleased people will be able to keep their independence so they can visit Tesco, the health centre and the dentist.
“I’ve always been a great believer in the power of the people. I wouldn’t have wanted to have sat here knowing we hadn’t tried our best.”
More than 300 people responded to the consultation from Stagecoach. The new route will come into effect on May 8. New timetables and maps will be available on April 17.
Stagecoach has repeatedly stated that the previous 36 service had been running at a loss and was no longer sustainable.
Moray Council leader Stewart Cree said: “I know that in the past Stagecoach has operated on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. It’s no longer possible to provide services because they’re nice to have.
“I’m delighted there is going to be continuity but in the long-term I think we need to use the dial-a-bus and local operators to back-fill the main routes.”
Mark Whitelocks, managing director of Stagecoach North Scotland, explained he was “delighted” an alternative had been found and explained Findhorn and Kinloss residents could get connection in Forres to get to Elgin.
He said: “It’s critical now that all the people who came forward to tell us how much they value us providing this service make good use of it so as we can sustain the provision of this service from May 8.
“Like all our services, we will continue to closely monitor the new service 31 in the coming months to ensure it is sustainable for the future. Should there not be sufficient use made of the service we will need to revisit our decision to continue a service.”
The new 31 route from Forres to Findhorn and Kinloss will no longer continue to Elgin.
Last night, Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross welcomed the news that some sections of the route would be saved.
But the Conservative also called on Moray Council to step in to fill the gap for passengers in Elgin and Roseisle who relied on the service which has been axed.
The authority previously stated it cannot afford to subsidise bus routes due to financial constraints.
Changes to the timetable have now been pushed back by a week until Monday, May 8 to allow the bus firm extra time to plan the new routes.
Mr Ross said: “During a meeting, I impressed on the Stagecoach managing director the need to keep this essential service and the strength of public feeling.
“I am grateful to him for listening to the concerns which were raised and I welcome the delay in changing the timetable.
“However, there are still many people in our local community who will suffer with these changes and I am hopeful the council can step in to fill the gap.”
