Bus service restored for Craigentinny and Fillyside residents

Following the announcement in April that First Bus would be curtailing many of their routes in the Lothians, the opportunity arose for the City of Edinburgh Council to provide a service that would reinstate transport links in the Craigentinny and Fillyside areas.

In 2008 the shortening of Lothian Buses service 12 meant that the public transport link between Leith Links, Craigentinny/Fillyside and Portobello was lost. This was the subject of consistent complaint from residents in the affected area.

Work began to identify a solution and when East Lothian Council moved to secure the lost First Bus services, the opportunity arose for the City of Edinburgh Council to participate in the contract for the 129 service.

This contract was won by Eve Coaches, based in Dunbar, who already operate a number of other subsidised bus services on behalf of East Lothian Council.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: "Our public transport network should aim to serve all of our residents and I'm delighted that by working with East Lothian Council we have been able to engineer a solution for the affected community.

"Implementing this contract will ensure that those without independent means of transport can gain access to employment, education and recreational facilities along the revised route."

A division of the cost of the contract between the two Councils, based on mileage operated in each area, produced a 43% share of the total contract cost payable by the City of Edinburgh Council.

This equates to £1,034 per week or £53,768 per year. The contract covers a period of three years from a start date of 2 July 2012.

A report on the contract, including timetable information, will be presented to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Monday 18 June 2012.