Stagecoach confirms bus depot closure plans

Bus operator Stagecoach has confirmed plans to close two depots in southern Scotland later this summer in a move affecting more than 100 staff.

It said it had taken the "difficult decision" to shut the sites in Dumfries and Stranraer from 6 August.

It coincides with the expiry of contracts it currently holds with Dumfries and Galloway Council and transport body SWestrans.

The local authority announced earlier this week most services in the region would continue with other operators following a tender process.

The Unite union confirmed it was now in a 45-day consultation with the company over the situation.

It said it was seeking "urgent clarification" over what would happen to its members across Dumfries and Galloway.

It said there was "no detail" over whether drivers would be transferred to other operators or other areas of Stagecoach.

The union said it was a "deeply unsettling time" for drivers but it would "fight tooth and nail" to get the best possible outcomes for its members.

The depot closure announcement comes after a prolonged battle over bus contracts in Dumfries and Galloway.

Stagecoach said an unlimited liability clause made any deal "no longer commercially viable" in the region.

It said it had been "working tirelessly" to find a solution but said the council and SWestrans had "refused to move their position".

"We want to be clear that it is a direct result of the council's position that Stagecoach West Scotland have had to take the decision to cease operations, as all aspects of the network are affected, not just contracted routes," it said.

The council said it recognised the impact the process was having on "staff, passengers, and communities who rely on local bus services".

It said that, along with SWestrans, it had a duty to ensure contracts were awarded through a "fair, transparent, and legally compliant procurement process".

It said that included "appropriate risk management measures to safeguard public funds and ensure long-term service sustainability".

It added that its priority was ensuring communities - particularly in rural areas - had access to reliable public transport.

The situation has prompted fears that many services could come to an end but the local authority announced this week that most of them would continue.

Stagecoach said it wished success to the operators who had been awarded contracts.

"We hope that their decision delivers the standard of service that we have been proud to offer over the many years we have been operating in the region," it said.

"Rural areas are especially challenging to operate in and require a fully-funded and appropriate tendered network to be successful."

It said it was working closely with staff affected in Dumfries and Stranraer to help them through the depot closure process.