Highland Council could run some bus services in Caithness if pilot scheme is success in Inverness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caithness could get some local bus services run by Highland Council if a pilot scheme in Inverness is a success, it is hoped.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Ron Gunn backed the idea of extending the initiative to the far north.
He said: "There could be an opportunity for Highland Council to run some kind of bus service in Caithness. There is a lot complaints about the local buses and a lot of people are dissatisfied with the service.
"I would like to think there could be an opportunity for some buses to be operated by the council depending on how things go in Inverness. It could deliver what the local community want here and create a few jobs as well."
His council colleague Willie Mackay, a Wick and East Caithness councillor, said there have been "problems and complaints about bus services throughout Caithness for years" and claimed some of the buses used in the far north are unsuitable and "far too big and lengthy for narrower routes around towns and in the country".
Cllr Mackay added: "I would like to see Highland Council's roll out of buses find their way into Caithness and would argue that smaller and convenient coaches would serve the county far better rather than large coaches that serve the Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and Aberdeen routes."
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are aware of Highland Council’s plans to start an in-house bus service in Inverness. However, this will not extend to the rural areas any time soon as it will take time to scale up."
She added: "Our bus services are extremely fragile and underpinned by significant contracts in the area. When these change, this has a knock-on effect to transport connectivity which is why we need to build in resilience and sustainability to our rural transport infrastructure.
"This needs a concerted effort by all parties involved to find solutions. We are currently seeking to facilitate some of these discussions with partners in the new year.”
Highland Council has confirmed that its in-house bus company project is to launch on January 4.
The local authority has invested in 12 buses, including six double deckers, to deliver passenger and school transport services at a lower cost than commercial contractors.
A project team has been established with three officers and a bus operations supervisor while the pilot bus scheme has been approved by the Traffic Commissioner. Interviews for drivers are ongoing while approval has been granted for the lease of ground for an operational centre.
The use of electric buses has not been fully explored by the council but officers intend to submit a bid next spring to Transport Scotland’s Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund.
Alongside the pilot programme, the council is to carry out a review of school transport arrangements, including the procurement of specialist transport management software.
The chairman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "This will not only help us streamline the expansion of our bus services but it will ensure every possible efficiency saving is made."
