A north-east councillor has demanded answers from Scotland’s traffic commissioner – 12 weeks after he called for her to intervene in a Buchan bus row.
Jim Ingram lodged a formal complaint with commissioner Joan Aitken over concern Stagecoach’s new £5.5million fleet of vehicles breaches disability regulations.
The revamped Buchan Xpress fleet has provoked outcry from many older and disabled passengers who say they are unable to climb the steps.
Hundreds of locals turned out to a bus forum meeting with Stagecoach bosses and Mr Ingram wrote to the commissioner in March.
But three months on, the SNP councillor has received no response.
In a fresh letter to Ms Aitken, Mr Ingram said: “Over the intervening period I continue to be contact by inconvenienced members of the travelling public, requesting a progress report on my complaint, whilst continuing to express their dissatisfaction and difficulties they continue to experience with these vehicles.”
Mr Ingram suggests the new coaches are in breach of disability discrimination legislation and are actually intended for journeys of “155 miles or longer”. Such vehicles fall under different regulations.
“These vehicles are specifically designed for long distance travel and not for the short distance timetabled services,” Mr Ingram added.
Last night Ms Aitken’s office acknowledged the complaint. A spokesman said: “The Traffic Commissioner is aware of the concerns of Mr Ingram and Eilidh Whiteford MP’s constituents in this matter.
“She has used the occasion of meetings with Stagecoach to discuss other matters to raise the concerns intimated by Mr Ingram.
“The directors of Stagecoach are adamant that the coach is legally compliant and they are aware that the coach is not to the preference of some of their passengers.”
He said it was the commissioner’s understanding that Stagecoach would continue to meet with local politicians to discuss concerns.
He added: “In view of a further letter from councillor Ingram, which has been received in Traffic Commissioner’s office today, the Traffic Commissioner will refer the matter to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for a technical investigation.”
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: “All of the vehicles we order from our suppliers are specified to meet the relevant regulations around accessibility and we will be happy to demonstrate to the DVSA that our vehicles meet the required standards.
“A recent survey showed that 8 out of 10 Buchan Xpress users believe the new vehicles have delivered an improvement to the services.”