Eastern villagers on FVRH bus

Jul 11 2012 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

EASTERN villages’ residents have helped officially launch two new services to the Forth Valley Royal Hospital by jumping on board the bus to travel the new route.

Community council representatives from Cowie, Fallin and Throsk joined Stirling Council transport spokesman Councillor Danny Gibson together with local councillors Violet Weir and Margaret Brisley and opposition spokesperson Councillor Jim Thomson for the launch.

The new C34 and C35 service is funded by Stirling Council and provided by Hunters Executive Coaches to run from Monday to Friday with four new journeys available per day starting from Stirling bus station and then running between Fallin, Throsk, Cowie and Plean and then on to Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Councillor Gibson said: “These routes will provide an important transport link for patients, visitors and staff. We hope these new services will be welcomed and it is now up to local people to literally 'get on board' and demonstrate that there is a present and future demand for such a service.”

Local elected Labour members Councillor Violet Weir and Councillor Margaret Brisley issued a joint statement saying: “As local councillors we have both been involved in campaigning with the community to see this service established and we are delighted it is now up and running.

“It's now over to the people of Fallin, Throsk, Cowie and Plean to demonstrate through using the new route that this service can be viable and successful as we hope it will be.

And SNP councillor Alasdair Macpherson added: “I am delighted this service is at last up and running. I worked hard with Ronnie McCabe and Cowie Community Council and a number of community activists to achieve this service which was in the SNP budget in February, but has been delayed for months because of Labour's dirty deal with the Tories.”

The C34 bus service will no longer run to Stirling Community Hospital.

First Bus operates two services to Stirling Community Hospital, numbers

53 and 57, from stance 12 at Stirling Bus Station.

Further information is available from Stirling Bus Station or by

contacting Traveline: 0871 200 22 33 or online at travelinescotland.com