A Three Towns mum has blasted Stagecoach's decision to axe two of its North Ayrshire services.

As the Herald reported last week, the new changes come into effect on December 1 and will see the X11 and X44 discontinued.

A Three Towns mum, who wished to remain anonymous, relies on the X11 to do the school run and to get to work.

She said: “Without it, it’s two buses to work and a 30 min walk to the nursery/school. What happened to promoting public transport? It’s too far for my three-year-old to walk to, especially in horrible weather.

“I hate complaining but this really messes up my school/nursery routine and I shouldn’t have to change schools because the one I picked for my kids is now going to end up with them soaked when they turn up because Stagecoach has axed their service. I understand they need to make money, but we can’t let this go. If a major city cancelled its routes around housing schemes, there would be war.”

Stagecoach has also made changes to its timetable for the 11, 12, 18, 25, X36 and X76 services. The X34 will reduce to only operate during peak times, while the X36 will increase to an hourly service, with a half-hourly service from Beith-Glasgow.

The changes come just months after the Herald reported that Dalry residents would lose their Number 10 Shuttle Bus.

Councillor John Sweeney said: “I have been in contact with Stagecoach regarding the proposed change to service number 12 which caters for Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. I am disappointed to learn of this proposed change to bring this service to every 40 minutes. One of the top priorities for Stevenston from a health and social care perspective is social isolation. To reduce this service from 30 minutes to every 40 minutes will have a serious negative impact on my constituents.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach West Scotland commented: “Stagecoach West Scotland are making changes to services in North Ayrshire, including in the Garnock Valley and our express services to Glasgow in order to improve the overall customer experience. During September, Stagecoach actively engaged with the public via consultation events in Saltcoats, Irvine and Beith, and through canvassing customers on board our services and by an online survey.

“We can confirm that there will be no reduction in service 25 in the Garnock Valley. Off peak services from Ardrossan and the Garnock Valley will operate hourly with our off peak X36 service from Beith to Glasgow doubling in frequency to every half hour. Passengers on the 25 service to Beith can remain on the same bus which will alter to an X36 in Beith. Passengers travelling between Irvine and Glasgow will be able to do so on our newly extended X76 service via Kilmarnock.

“Unfortunately services X11 and X44 continue to have low passenger numbers, and as there are alternative services that this small proportion of our passengers can use instead we can no continue to operate these non-commercially viable services.”