STAGECOACH have blamed a reduction in tendered contracts from Fife Council for its decision to close their Cowdenbeath depot.

The company said there would be “a few” job losses within the 141-strong workforce when the Broad Street garage shuts its doors next month and that a failure to land “all contracts proposed for South and West Fife schools and local bus services” were the root cause.

But the council insisted that the tendering of the contracts, which have been awarded to First Scotland East, Bay Travel, Festival Travel, Prentice Westwood Coaches, Vision Travel and Merlin Travel as well as Stagecoach, ensures “value for money for Fife residents”.

Closure of the depot will result in revised timetables for a large number of bus services across the Cowden-Gelly area, which will include “significant changes to school bus services” from the start of the new term after school contracts were awarded to a number of operators.

Stagecoach said that the “vast majority of employees will relocate to other Stagecoach depots” after they were “offered a significantly reduced level of work compared to previous years”.

The firm announced the planned closure in May and despite continued consultation with trade union representatives, operations will cease on 16th August.

Andrew Jarvis, managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland, said, “We discussed a range of possibilities with trade union representatives and individuals over the last few months but, unfortunately, it would not be affordable to continue running fewer services while facing the same overhead costs. We had to make the final decision in the interest of both staff and customers, as well as the long-term future of the business.

“As a result of the loss of a number of tendered services from 17th August we had to re-evaluate our operations in the area, how it was important not to reduce the journey options for our customers and I’m glad we’ve managed to achieve that. Some timetable changes are required to ensure efficient operations, but these adjustments are minimal and where possible we’ve even been able to add extra morning or evening journeys. We’re even launching an improved daily service to Livingston for commuters and leisure travellers.

“There are a number of school services or tendered journeys we will no longer be operating on behalf of Fife Council, so we’d advise customers to check Fife Council’s website for more information on school services.” Councillor Pat Callaghan, the council’s transportation spokesperson, said, “It is very disappointing to hear that Stagecoach intend to close their Cowdenbeath depot.

“I am pleased that the company has said it will be redeploying as many staff as possible to other depots. I also hope that the other bus and coach companies who have won contracts in South Fife will be in a position to offer work to any affected Stagecoach employees.

“Stagecoach has retained a substantial number of Council contracts and remains our largest provider of school and subsidised bus routes. The company itself admits that 80% of their business relates to commercial routes that do not benefit from any public subsidy. I understand that the company has been considering the future of the Cowdenbeath depot well before these latest contracts were announced.

“I am pleased that the school and subsidised bus routes put out tender by the Council will continue to operate, albeit through other bus companies at a reduced cost to the residents of Fife.” Routes across Central Fife that will see timetable changes include service numbers 9 (Kelty to High Valleyfield), 17/17A/17B (Halbeath Park and Ride to Kelty via Crossgates and Cowdenbeath), 18 (Kelty to Kirkcaldy), 19/19A (Ballingry to Rosyth), 20A (Lochgelly to Ballingry), 33/33A (Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy via Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly), 34/34A (Ballingry to Kirkcaldy) 56/56A/56B (Halbeath Park and Ride to Perth via Cowdenbeath and Kelty), 81 (Dunfermline to Glenrothes via Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly) and the express X24 and X26 services.

Customers who find their local service is no longer provided by Stagecoach will be unable to use their multi-journey tickets on these routes, but a multi-operator ‘One-ticket’ will offer travel on the new operator’s routes and the continuing Stagecoach network.

For more information on timetable changes and ‘One-ticket’, visit www.stagecoachbus.com and www.one-ticket.co.uk.