THE shock news that key bus routes through North Ayrshire are set to be axed from next month holds the spotlight in this week's readers' letters to the Herald.

To have your say on any topic of local interest just email your views to editorial@ardrossanherald.co.uk, with 'Letter' in the subject line.

You can also send your views direct to us via the Send Us Your News section of this website.

Please include your name and address. We also require a daytime contact phone number in case we need to check any details at short notice, though this will not be printed.

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STAGECOACH bus company's termination next month of the important X36 and X34 bus services from Ardrossan to Glasgow and Irvine to Glasgow is going to leave a lot of commuters high and dry. Above all, those travelling to work will be hit.

It is frankly a sure sign that Stagecoach are continuing to put profit before people.

Students will suffer badly, trying to get to college or university, shoppers will be hard hit, and people simply trying to get to their clubs or see friends.

Consider the facts: Stagecoach were taken over on May 20 this year by the German firm, DWS Infrastructure for £595million. It is a firm that in the past has seen investigations by both USA and German watchdogs. It is mostly owned by the somewhat shady Deutsche Bank, whose dealings have been much questioned in the past, all around the world - it is hardly a model of financial probity and transparency.

It owns half of Peel Ports, which are responsible for the past and continuing state of affairs at Ardrossan Harbour.

The former Stagecoach head, Sir Brian Souter and his sister, Dame Anne Gloag, stand to add considerably to their already bulging bank assets of £730million. Whatever integrity these people ever had is surely gone.

In the meantime it is the poor and vulnerable among us who will be stranded and disadvantaged. It is imperative that local councils take the opportunity becoming available next month (signed off by the Scottish government) to be allowed to municipalise their bus services, thereby safeguarding important routes and keeping fares as low as possible.

At the moment the only municipalised bus service in Scotland is in Lothian - they are a great example of what can be achieved, with integrity and having the good of the community at heart.

David Rodger

Caledonian Road, Stevenston

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I AM writing in response to the recent [news of the] cancellation of the X36 bus services from the Garnock Valley to Glasgow.

This is without doubt nothing more than a monetary decision by Stagecoach.

I do not deny the fact that passenger numbers have recently declined for the service, however, this does not and should not allow Stagecoach to cancel the services. There are residents in the Garnock Valley and wider North Ayrshire area who do not own private motor vehicles and their only mode of transport is purely public transport.

It is not acceptable for Stagecoach to cancel these services stating that rail travel is still available to Glasgow. Some of these rail stations are well in excess of 30-45 minutes walk for a lot of residents and not on any other nearby local bus routes, therefore, the Glasgow service is a critical lifeline for those who need to travel to and from the city.

Even for those with private motor vehicles, public transport is still a necessity for when their vehicles are out of use for whatever reason.

Extremely steep increases in fuel prices and with the Glasgow City centre Low Emission Zone coming into effect in under a year, this may well drive local residents to use public transport to avoid increasing fuel costs and the risk of emission zone fines for not having the appropriate vehicle.

Immediate action is needed to force Stagecoach to reverse this decision and reinstate bus services to and from Glasgow. The people and businesses of the Garnock Valley need this service. 

Gillian McMillan

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In a statement to the Herald last week, a spokesperson for Stagecoach West Scotland said: “The new network reflects the new travel patterns we have seen coming out of the pandemic, current levels of passenger demand, rising costs, sector-wide recruitment challenges and the need to ensure the most sustainable bus network for the long term.

“We remain absolutely committed to working with the Scottish Government and local authority partners, as well as other stakeholders, to deliver the best networks we can for local communities, taking account of the current difficult environment and the changes we have seen in when and how people travel."

READ MORE: Stagecoach set to axe key North Ayrshire bus routes