A KILWINNING councillor has voiced his opposition to plans to cut the 320 bus service in the town from a half-hourly to an hourly service.

Labour councillor Joe Cullinane has written to Scottish Passenger Transport (SPT) to express his disapproval of their plans for the bus route, known locally as “the 20”.

He has also asked Stagecoach for a commitment that – should they win the new contract – they will run a half hourly service.

Stagecoach receives £33,840 in subsidy from SPT in addition to the fare revenues to run the service. The contract for the route is due for renewal in July 2014 and SPT are currently accepting bids from bus companies as part of a new tender for an hourly service.

Speaking on the issue Councillor Cullinane said: “Having campaigned for better bus services in Kilwinning since 2012, I was disappointed to learn of SPT’s decision to tender for an hourly service. It appears this decision was taken as part of a wider review of subsidised bus services following changes to who runs some local services and the level of subsidy the bus companies receive for running them.

“The 320 is a popular service and carries almost 100,000 passengers per year. Stagecoach, as the current operator, retain all fare revenues from these journeys as well as a handsome subsidy from SPT.

“I believe there is no sound case for reducing the frequency of the service.

“I know that many of my constituents in the Woodwynd and Blacklands areas will be concerned about this proposed change.

“Having witnessed first-hand how Stagecoach’s cuts to the 27 service impacted on the communities it serves, I very much share their concerns and I will be looking to work with constituents in the Woodwynd and Blacklands to fight these proposed changes.” A spokesperson for SPT said: “SPT, as part of its contract renewal process, is currently reviewing the 320 Kilwinning Local subsidised bus service.

“The requirements for this service have to take into consideration the wider public transport network, and how this may have changed since the last contract award.

“As always, we will work to deliver a service that fills those socially necessary gaps in the transport network that commercial operators are unwilling to provide.” Stagecoach declined to comment while the tendering process was still going on.