CALLS are being made for a complete overhaul of buses across Scotland after a raft of complaints about services in Clackmannanshire.

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell has raised the issue in Scottish Parliament and insisted that investment in routes for rural areas had to be made a priority.

This is not the first time Mr Ruskell has raised concerns about the state of Clackmannanshire’s bus services, following up on complaints from constituents about the reliability of McGill’s buses.

Speaking in Scottish Parliament, he said: “At the heart of our vision for better buses are a few central principles.

"Our buses must be reliable, they must be affordable, they must be accessible and run in the public interest.

“Folks are finding it harder and harder to rely on buses to commute to work, head to school, or meet up with friends or family.

“Cancelled services erode passenger confidence in buses, particularly in rural areas where people can be left without any other option to make their journey."

The Clacks MSP suggested that operators should face penalties if routes are cut or if they consistently fail to turn up on time.

Mr Ruskell called for more regulation placed on bus operators and raised the idea of having government subsidiaries and funding withheld if they continue to run poorly.

“Millions of pounds of Scottish Government money is also given to bus operators in grants and for concessions,” he added. “But despite these vast sums, private bus operators like McGill’s and Stagecoach have hiked fares and cut services.

“We need system change to ensure Scotland’s buses are run for people, and not profit.

"It’s time for Clackmannanshire Council to explore the tools within the Transport Act 2019 that empower them to run their own services that meet the needs of their communities.”

McGill’s responded to Ruskell’s suggestions and insisted it was feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis while continuing to try to provide services as efficiently as possible.

The firm also aim to engage with local representatives in a bid to improve their services.

Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s, said: “As with government, local authorities and society in general, bus companies have not been immune from recent cost pressures.

“We are working hard to retain a reliable and viable network against a backdrop of higher fuel, maintenance and wage costs whilst also dealing with increased traffic and substandard maintenance and management of the roads which adds significantly to our cost line.

“Since taking bus services over in September 2022, McGill’s has worked hard to improve service reliability and has made significant strides in improving the vehicles serving the region.

“We have had constructive discussions with Mr Ruskell throughout this period and hope these will continue when he visits our Bannockburn depot next week to meet the local staff and talk about the service enhancements in his constituency.

“We are always willing to engage with parliamentarians and government on wider public transport policy.”