New funding removes bus services doubts

May 7 2008

ELEVEN Lanarkshire bus services were last week given news on funding which meant they have the go-ahead to continue.

The services all rely on subsidies from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

On Friday, SPT members agreed to subsidies that will allow the services to continue for a period of between three and five years.

The contracts that were renewed were:

Service 366 (Wishaw, Harthill) awarded to Stuart’s Coaches at a cost of £343,200 for five years; Service 13 (Strathaven, Hamilton) awarded to Henderson Travel for three years at a cost of £210,000; Service 255 (Netherburn, Hamilton), Service 253 (Coalburn, Hamilton) and Service 254 (Hamilton, Strathaven) awarded to Whitelaws Coaches Ltd. for five years at a cost of £578,327; Service 105/335 (Lanark Local) awarded to Stuart’s Coaches at a cost of £67,500 for five years; Service 209 (North Motherwell, Bellshill) awarded to Henderson Travel for three years at a cost of £124,222; Service 242 (Wishaw, Overton, Larkhall) awarded to Whitelaws Coaches at a cost of £171,982 for five years; Service 205 (Blantyre, Hairmyres Hospital) awarded to Irvine’s Coaches for five years at a cost of £95,650; Service 48 (Wishaw, Carbarns) awarded to Irvine’s Coaches at a cost of £3700 for eight weeks until September, 2008, when this service will be incorporated with Wishaw Local Service 93 (see below); Service 93 (Wishaw Local) awarded to Henderson Travel at a cost of £153,015 for 34 months.

Timetable details for all bus services are available by phoning the Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 and at travelinescotland.com