SDC allays fears on UBUS

“The decision should be ratified by full council on 29th February,” she said. “The district council knows it is a much valued and needed service which is apparent from the user survey undertaken last year.”

In his statement to the Herald, Mr Russel said: “I am concerned at what seems to be a threat to the UBUS service. The district council is consulting on whether to continue funding it - the implication being that it may stop doing so unless the public support it.“When the council’s deputy leader, I persuaded my colleagues to scrap the old system of transport tokens and replace it with Community Links, the predecessor to UBUS. They accepted the new bus service would be a lifeline to many of the most vulnerable in the community.

“Nothing has changed. UBUS is still a lifeline to the vulnerable. And despite the financial pressures on the council, there would be no justification for abandoning the service. I hope my concerns are groundless.”