Send your local news stories and photos to:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Local Services   I Cars  I   Stuff 4 Sale   I   Jobs   I                             

 

Hebrides  News

Bus services still off the road        7/2/14

 

Districts in Harris are still without a full bus service after the sudden axing of three contracts.

 

Operator Billy Morrison pulled out of the service between Tarbert and Scalpay as well as to Rhenigadale.

 

A new operator is due to be appointed on Monday afternoon with full services restored the following week making it over a fortnight without the buses being on the road.

 

For the next two Saturdays the Comhairle will operate a free minibus for Scalpay otherwise the island would not have any public transport at all over the weekends.

 

Scalpay passengers can access the Monday to Friday daytime services operated by Scalpay Minibus and Hebridean Transport but there will be no 6.35pm bus.

 

Rhenigadale will not have any public bus service until the middle of the month. However, pupils will get transport to school.

Outgoing operator Billy Morrison ended the contracts after defects were found during tests conducted by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

 

Mr Morrison said the strict two days grace he was given to rectify the faults was “too restrictive” and he decided to take them off the road.

Mr Morrison pointed out:: “Vosa found only one fault in each of the minibuses.”

He added: “They weren’t major faults but Vosa didn’t give me the time to try and get this turned around.”

Mr Morrison said he decided it was not feasible for him to continue the bus service as relocated from Tarbert to Inverness about a year ago.