Bus passengers in Stirling and Clackmannanshire are being urged to have their say on timetable changes serving a pair of local routes.
Operators First Bus have announced the latest set of changes - which are set to take effect from August 15 - to the 51 and 52 buses.
The changes will see a service between Stirling and Alloa running every half hour, with journeys between Alloa and Clackmannan being served by a separate Service 51 shuttle.
The evening and Sunday service on the route will remain unchanged, but daytime departures from Alloa to Stirling are to be changed to provide connections with the 51 service.
The timetable changes come amid a period of frustration with the bus service provided by First Bus in the region, with a “perfect storm” of pressures, including the impact of Brexit and Covid leading to a shortage of drivers, having been blamed for reductions in timetables.
In December last year, hundreds of signatures were also gathered on a petition in an effort to save the X53 bus service between Stirling and Kinross - with passengers in villages across the Wee County affected by that move.
Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown is leading the calls for locals to have their say on the latest timetable changes before they come into effect next month.
Mr Brown said: “I’ve written to First Bus a number of times, and met with representatives, raising the concerns of local communities with some of the changes that have been made recently to bus services.
“I’m pleased that efforts are being made to help ensure local people benefit from a reliable and sustainable mode of transport, however it’s important to me that the voices of local people are heard in matters like these.
“I am therefore encouraging local people – particularly those who use the bus regularly for things like getting to work or regular appointments – to have a look at the timetable First Bus is proposing and let me know your views.
“If you think the bus operator needs to make changes, let me know. I’ll compile all responses I receive and make sure First Bus are aware of what local people are saying.”
