Support for bill at public meeting

MSP Iain Gray attended the meeting which was held in Broadwood Stadium.

The meeting follows a recent timetable shake up by First buses earlier this year.

The News and Chronicle reported last week that the company has been accused of cutting Cumbernauld off from Glasgow after some services were shelved including the X80 and X4.

And MSP Iain Gray was hoping to talk about his proposed Bus Regulation Bill.

The bill is calling on the Scottish Government to protect vital routes and strengthen regulation in the Scottish bus industry.

MP Gregg McClymont, who also attended the meeting, said that irate Cumbernauld residents have demanded the re-regulation of the buses .

The politician added that local bus users from areas including Blackwood, Balloch, Craigmarloch, Carrickstone and Seafar explained how the lack of a decent bus service affects their everyday lives.

Those at the meeting unanimously expressed their support for former Labour leader Iain Gray MSP’s Bus Regulation Bill.

MSP Mark Griffin, spoke at the meeting, and he said:“I will be supporting Iain’s Bill when it comes to Parliament because the cuts to bus services cannot go on.

“People in Cumbernauld need an answer.”

Mr McClymont added: “Person after person stood up to explain how their life was

being affected by the lack of buses to get to work, to get to town and even to get around Cumbernauld.

“Not everyone has a car or can afford one.

“Everyone present agreed that Iain Gray’s bill, while not a quick fix, would help to address the problem in the long term.”