m.connect provision for Findhorn and Kinloss to be considered
Moray Council has today (Tuesday 13 August) agreed to lobby the Scottish Government for improved rural bus service funding.
The approach by the Council Leader to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport is to be made while the local authority explores a potential expansion of m.connect services, including the coastal route linking Lossiemouth to Findhorn and villages in between.
Potential options will be incorporated into scoping work for the next phase of the Bus Revolution project, due for implementation in Spring 2025. Any proposals including a Findhorn to Forres connection will be brought to full council on 25 September 2024. The wider Bus Revolution project is part of Moray’s Growth Deal, funded through £4m of Scottish Government funding and £300,000 from Moray Council.
Stagecoach Bluebird announced a reduction of services linking Elgin and Forres via Duffus, Hopeman, Burghead, Kinloss and Findhorn. On 30 July, the commercial bus operator confirmed that, following community feedback, a morning and evening peak hour service linking Findhorn to Elgin would be retained. However, Findhorn/Kinloss to Forres will be unlinked by Stagecoach services, although Moray Council’s m.connect service operates 8am until 5pm in the area.
Interim measures to potentially continue services until any m.connect options are known will be explored with an approach to the MOD and Stagecoach.
Speaking after an extensive discussion about the future of rural transport provision, Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “We’re very aware of the challenges rural transport provides communities in Moray. Ultimately, our aim is to make sure people can move around Moray easily and sustainably for work and leisure. Our fantastic in-house, demand responsive m.connect service is going from strength-to-strength and the planned phasing of additional services is the right approach to take for it to be sustainable.
“However, we feel strongly that we need to lobby the Scottish Government on the wider matter of their blanket policy approach, which we believe penalises rural routes. Subsidised under 22 and over 60 travel is ideal in urban areas, where there is greater footfall and potentially lower mileage, but rurality and higher costs need to be considered in policy interventions to enable sustainable provision of services.
“We have an excellent model in m.connect, the Scottish Government providing capital funding the Bus Revolution project shows they can see that. However, as a council, we’re ambitious for Moray and keen to see the Scottish Government work with us to further improve rural transport funding to benefit our communities and reduce transport poverty.”