4 days ago
Campaign and consultation launched by Livingston MP to improve bus services
Livingston Village, Addiewell, Longridge, Stoneyburn, Adambrae, and parts of Broxburn are all experiencing either reduced or non-existent services
A campaign has been launched in a bid to improve the provision of bus services in West Lothian.
The public transport campaign and a local consultation, focusing on bus services, has been set up by Gregor Poynton MP.
The Livingston MP's constituency is served primarily by Lothian Country Buses, and he is calling on residents to get in touch, speak up, and share their experiences of local bus services or the lack of them in certain areas.
The campaign aims to highlight where services are working and where urgent improvements are still needed.
Lothian Country Buses took over a number of routes across West Lothian in 2023 following the withdrawal of McGill's, in a move that restored vital services to many communities that had previously lost regular bus access.
However, while reliability has generally improved since the takeover, several areas remain underserved or excluded altogether from current routes.
Communities such as Livingston Village, Addiewell, Longridge, Stoneyburn, Adambrae, and parts of Broxburn are all experiencing either reduced or non-existent bus services. In some areas, residents are left with only one bus per hour, or none at all, leading to residents feeling isolated and with growing concerns about access to essential services.
The MP has already raised these issues directly with Lothian Country Buses and the Scottish Government.
Launching the campaign and his new public transport survey on Facebook, he has committed to doing everything he can to support local residents and advocate for better transport provision across the constituency.
The survey is designed to capture views from across the Livingston Constituency and provide evidence to support future discussions with local transport providers and government bodies.
As part of the campaign, Gregor Poynton recently met with the Livingston Village Bus Campaign Group to listen to their concerns and sign their petition. He heard more about the frustration and sense of isolation felt by many residents, especially those without alternative means of transport.
Gregor Poynton said: 'We know that public transport in many parts of the Livingston constituency is letting local people down.
'Bus routes that work for local people and which are reliable are critical to many people and it's an issue I hear time and time again on the doorstep. Local bus service should allow people to visit their GP, attend hospital appointments, see friends and family, or even just get to the shops, but in many places provision falls short of what's needed.
'When local services are cut or disappear entirely, people are left facing high taxi fares, increased isolation, or the growing cost of running a car, which simply isn't an option for everyone.
'I'm determined to ensure that everyone in the Livingston constituency has fair and equal access to reliable public transport. We must end the postcode lottery that currently exists, where some areas have a regular service and others are left behind.
'That's why it's so important that I hear directly from constituents. Your experiences will help shape the case I make to Lothian Buses and the Scottish Government.
'Please take a moment to complete my survey and share it with your family, friends and neighbours so that we can work to improve bus services across the Livingston constituency and West Lothian as a priority.'
Constituents can take part in the survey on Facebook or contact the Livingston MP directly via email at or through his social media channels.
