Ayrshire councils have been given power to run bus services across local authority areas.
The Scottish Government has passed the Transport (Scotland) Act to allow this to happen after local authorities asked to run their own services.
Ayr SNP MSP Siobhian Brown has welcomed the move and said the move will ensure that South Ayrshire is fit for purpose.
She added: “Bus services are vital to South Ayrshire for those wanting to get around, but they are also a vital tool in our response to the climate emergency.
“That is why it is welcome that the SNP Scottish Government is rolling out these powers to local authorities across the country, including South Ayrshire Council to ensure we have a bus service that is fit for purpose and serves the needs of people here.
“This is just one measure the SNP Scottish Government has taken to revitalise our bus network here in South Ayrshire and across Scotland by providing half a billion pounds in long term funding for bus priority infrastructure, coupled with the roll out of free bus travel to under 22s and significant investment to encourage a shift to zero emission buses.
“Buses will play a key role in achieving Scotland’s world-leading target of reducing car kilometres by 20 per cent by 2030 and this measure to empower local authorities will be another step on the path to achieving that goal.”
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “This announcement has just been made, and we are waiting for more detail to come out from the Scottish Government on issues such as funding.”
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