Dumbiedykes residents voice concerns over isolation fears thanks to unreliable bus service

Since launching last year, the Midland Bluebird service has been plagued with issues, according to residents who say there have been late and cancelled stops.

Local resident Julie Logan said she must book her 88-year-old mother costly alternative transport to GP and hospital appointments, including Ubers and taxis, as she called the service “not reliable”. However, there is a much deeper cost, with residents left feeling as though their independence is being taken away.

Ms Logan said: “These buses are supposed to run every hour so a no show would mean missing appointments.She misses not having the bus as it's where she might meet other neighbours and have a wee catch up with them as the Braidwood Community Centre was closed by council.

“Mum feels isolated and her independence is being taken away. There must be residents here totally isolated if they don't have family.”

Stephanie Wint is another local resident. She said she feels like the area is being ignored by McGills, which operates the service.

The Midland Bluebird service has been criticised as being unreliable by local residents. | Google Maps/Canva

Ms Wint said: “We were almost four years, I think, without a bus service, so you want to make use of it in the hope that it will stay but if the bus isn't coming, you can't make much use of it, can you? They don't care much about us, you know? I mean I definitely get that impression. They’re using buses that then break down or they haven't got the drivers. I feel as though they don't particularly care about us.”

Ms Logan agrees but also lays the blame at the door of local councillors, she said: “This community is surrounded by tourists and students. Councillors seem to have forgotten permanent local residents.”

Local residents were reluctant for McGills to be given the service, having put forward their own proposals to councillors for Lothian Bus’s 14 service to add on a short detour to encompass the route. Residents cited the ability to use a single ticket across all Lothian bus routes.

Ms Logan said: “Using McGills, when it arrives, is a £2.20 single fare, or their day tickets, which you can only use on their buses. It would've made more sense to have a Lothian bus, where all residents could rely on it showing and pay a day ticket or use their pass.

“All councillors were aware of the issues, due to no community centre they don't hold meetings in the scheme.”

Residents are now being encouraged to contact Southside Community Council with their complaints, with fears that McGills have not been recording the complaints they have received.

Ms Logan said: “I happened to pop into a Southside Community Council meeting who have kindly taken this issue onboard. They have given out an email address for residents to write their complaints and use every time there's an issue with the bus, as anyone who called McGills to complain wasn't given a ref number for the complaint (even when asking for one), so absolutely no record of their extremely poor service has been logged all this year.”

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m conscious that this disruption will be frustrating for local residents. We’re aware of these issues and have raised them directly with McGill’s. They’ve assured us that these are being addressed, and that a spare bus will also be made available when necessary. We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely.

“I’m proud that as a Council we’re continuing to stand up for communities across the Capital with our supported bus services.”

McGill’s, who operate the service under the Midland Bluebird brand, did not respond to an approach for comment.