Central Scotland MSP and Shadow Minister for Transport, Graham Simpson, has this week visited local bus and coach operator Whitelaws to hear about the challenges facing their industry.
He met with Whitelaw’s Managing Director, Sandra Whitelaw, at their depot in Stonehouse who updated him on operations before providing a tour of the fleet.
Whitelaws, which have been in business since 1973, are a family owned bus and coach operator employing 56 members of staff.
Mr Simpson heard about the important role Whitelaws play in the local community, often transporting nearly 1000 children to schools across the region every day whilst running a 7 day service which operates from 5am to midnight.
They also discussed the challenges facing local bus operators in general. The industry project a 15-25% reduction in routes due to additional costs. Whitelaws have seen a 49% increase in fuel prices and 64% in utilities.
Despite this, Whitelaws are determined to improve their service. They were the first operator in Scotland to upgrade the fleet to a low carbon alternative back in 2015 and continue to replace their vehicles every 4-5 years.
Mr Simpson was particularly pleased to hear that they still accept cash payments on buses and calculate ticket prices by distance – which remains popular with older residents.
MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson said: “It was good to meet with Sandra from Whitelaw buses to learn more about their operations and the challenges facing the industry.
“Local bus operators are crucial to Scottish communities in urban and rural areas but are often overlooked by the Scottish Government.
“As we face a cost of living and climate crisis, groups like Whitelaws will need additional support from Ministers to help decarbonise their fleet and sustain struggling routes.
“I look forward to working closely with Whitelaws and bus operators across Scotland to ensure they get a fair deal and essential funding”.
