Lothian Buses has announced changes to its number 4 bus route sparking widespread objection from the residents in Bingham.
The route change means the bus will no longer serve the Bingham terminus or the nearby ASDA.
Residents claim that the decision was implemented: “without any warning or consultation.”
An organised protest took place on 30 September following the decision taken by Lothian Buses to not send a representative to a Bingham community meeting.
The protest aimed to emphasise the impact on the more vulnerable members of the community, particularly the elderly and disabled, who rely on the bus for transport and will now lose their independence.
One local resident who spoke to The Student said:
“Until recently, I was helping a couple of elderly gentlemen in Bingham who could no longer manage their weekly Asda shop because of the changes to the bus service.
“They aren’t steady enough on their feet to manage to get the shopping back down the hill from Asda to the bus stop.”
Petitions to reverse the change have been signed by a total of 400 local residents.
The number 4 is the only bus currently serving the area, and has been described by councillor Alys Mumford as: “a lifeline for people in Bingham”.
The nearest served stop is now Bingham Avenue, but access requires crossing a busy road near Asda.
Multiple residents have commented on the difficulty of crossing this road and the danger it poses to small children, with one parent describing it as: “impossible.”
Lothian claims the changes to its network: “aims to improve reliability and connectivity” for customers, although Bingham residents have been informed by local councillors that the change was for commercial reasons.
This is not the first incidence of Lothian Buses making changes to their routes without local consultation.
The number 41 bus had served the northwest outskirts of Edinburgh for decades, including the communities of Barnton, Cammo, Cramod, and Davidson’s Mains.
However, the service was withdrawn as part of changes introduced in May this year.
Both the new 9 and the altered 47 routes were expected to replace it, but neither of these followed the same route, and neither served city centre stops such as Princes Street and George Street.
Residents were outraged, accusing Lothian Buses of: “riding roughshod over the travelling public.”
Affected residents hope that Lothian Buses will be prepared to consider alternatives.
Lothian Buses has been contacted for comment.
Image: “Edinburgh 2013 … Lothian bus SK06 AHJ.” by bazzadarambler is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
