A DOLLAR teenager has launched a door-step campaign with the hope of improving bus services in the town.

Holly Strachan has been pounding the streets gathering signatures for her petition, and information from residents, in a bid to kick-start a positive conversation.

She launched it at an event held to promote the Dollar Futures Project, which aims to engage local people in developing and delivering a five-year plan, last month.

The 19-year-old has aspirations to sit down with Clackmannanshire Council and discuss how transport links to the community could be developed.

It is an issue she feels strongly about believes infrequent services – non-existent on a Sunday – have an impact on the people in Dollar.

She said: "If we do manage to do something about this I feel that it will make Dollar a more attractive place to work, live and visit.

"I've spoken to some of the workers that live in Dollar and they've said that it is quite a struggle to get to Dollar for early shifts, or even late shifts getting back home.

"Dollar is expanding. This whole Dollar futures thing, your vision of what Dollar is going to be like in 2025, I've seen the plans and it's going to get bigger.

"It's got a growing population so I feel like this is something that we need to look at, because in the future I think there will be an increased demand for bus services to get out of the village."

Holly, who has stayed in the town for 18 years, would love to see more services, an increased service or a shuttle bus to the Hillfoots that would act as a link to other services.

She reckons is would provide better access for those in employment and further education, or others in need of health services, while reducing the carbon footprint.

The student has been going door-to-door speaking to members of the community, gathering feedback and has collected 400 signatures so far.

She said: "There's a very stereotypical view that people from Dollar have money and they have a car, that's the two main things, and I want people to know that's not always the case.

"If you don't have a car and don't have anybody to take you, you're basically planning your life around bus schedules.

"I spoke to a number of elderly people and they say for hospital appointments, or visiting hours, they will plan it around the hospital bus that goes to Larbert.

"For uni, it's impossible for me to get to Edinburgh for nine o'clock in the morning, just because of the buses and then it links up with the train – it just doesn't go very well."

Holly, who went to Alva Academy, is keen to do her bit and hopes that whatever happens with the petition, it will help to get people talking.

She said: "I'm doing primary teaching and the reason I'm doing primary teaching is because I want to make a difference to children's lives.

"I just feel like I actually want to make a difference to people's lives within the community because I've lived there all my life and know what buses are like.

"I've been feeling this way for a long time and I just thought, instead of complaining about it I'm just going to try and do something about it."

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "The council is currently liaising with the 'Dollar's future steering group' on public transport provision, discussing the feedback from the community consultation to develop a Dollar community action plan, where public transport links emerged as an area to explore for future opportunities."