Issue - meetings

A representative from  Scottish Citylink will be attending the meeting.

The Chair invited questions for Aiden Proctor on the bus services and various questions were put and answered. Aiden advised that the timetable was enhanced last year from 3 round trips to 5 and half. The number of passenger journeys had increased by 20% and the new coaches had almost doubled the seats available. He advised that he had received an approach from the Council to sell tickets from a Council Office in the event that the Ardrishaig Office closed.

Ruaraidh MacCallum raised some points in relation to the provision of signs for pre-booking and the Ardrishaig Office. Aiden Proctor advised that pre-booking is not a requirement but is preferable and you can always buy a ticket on the bus if there is space, there are no signs to advise that you have to pre-book. The Ardrishaig Office will remain open if there is demand and the Council offer to sell tickets from an Office would only be implemented if the Ardrishaig Office closed.

Councillor Taylor asked about pre-booked ticket holders who had arrived before the bus had left, but after the bus driver had let the reserved ticket holders on to the bus whereby their tickets had been re-sold to non ticket holders so their seats were no longer available, this happens in particular at Buchanan Bus Station. Aiden Proctor advised that he would speak to his colleagues for the Campbeltown/Glasgow route.

Colin Davidson enquired about the timings of the Campbeltown to Glasgow buses now leaving Lochgilphead at 8.00am and 10.00am which did not tie in with the Oban bus arriving to Lochgilphead at 9.00am. Aiden Proctor advised that the Campbeltown bus tied in with ferry times but he would have a look at the Oban route.

Councillor Taylor enquired about school bus runs and in particular for Tarbert pupils who were unable to take advantage of after school activities due no bus being available after the school run. Aiden Proctor advised that the Council could pay through West Coast Motors to use the Citylink bus as that arrangement happens in the Oban area at the moment, happy to come to some arrangement.