Moray Council is coming under increasing pressure to pledge money and save bus services in the region’s biggest town.
Stagecoach confirmed this week it was withdrawing the 33 service from Lesmurdie Road to Newmill Road in Elgin from May onwards.
The news prompted a massive protest with more than 100 people attending a consultation event in the town.
Now, their focus has turned to the local authority to step in and provide subsidies to save buses on the route.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead met repeatedly with locals throughout the consultation and intends to take their pleas to the local authority.
South Lesmurdie resident Jim Rooney said: “You can be quite cut off in Elgin. Our medical practice used to be a short walk away, now it’s moved to two miles away.
“You really do need the buses to get from one side of the town to the other. Otherwise you are looking at a £10 taxi fare, people can’t afford that.
“I feel this could just be the beginning and Stagecoach want to see how far they can push it. The onus really has to be on Moray Council now.”
Throughout Stagecoach’s consultation, the authority insisted it could not afford to subsidise any bus routes due to its difficult financial position.
However, outgoing council leader Stewart Cree suggested the changes could see an increased role for the dial-a-bus service.
Following feedback, the bus firm announced it was backing down on proposals to pull buses from Forres to Kinloss and Findhorn.
However, the route will no longer continue to Elgin from May 8.
Timetable changes proposed to the loss-making 30, 31 and 32 services in Moray will also come into effect on the same day.
Mr Lochhead said: “Stagecoach’s u-turn is a mixed bag and will not help many people who have been in touch with me from Roseisle, Larch Court and other parts of Bishopmill.
“As the only local authority, north of the central belt, not to fund bus services, it is now time for Moray Council to step up and save these vital routes, so as not to cut vulnerable people off from services they need.”
