THE bus situation is reaching a real crisis point.

The villagers of Dundonald are rightly concerned that their bus link with the Queen Margaret Hospital is likely to be among the casualties of Stagecoach trying to re-shape their route strategy as Fife Council reduce the subsidies.

The bus company is in a position which is not going to please many.

They have to ensure they remain profitable and to that the less busy routes are bound to suffer.

These are the ones that have always had subsidy support from the council but that is fast disappearing and the Route 33 bus which links Dundonald with the Queen Margaret is one of them.

Cardenden Community Council is definitely right to fight the corner for Dundonald and the suggestion of a trial period when villagers can prove that the service is a used one is no bad idea.

The fact is that under the modern NHS Fife strategy the Queen Margaret is the outpatient centre of the county and many people will have to get to the Dunfermline Hospital for key treatment.

A relatively simply journey if the patient has a car but if they do not then it is a different ball game.

The loss of Route 33 will mean people will have to look for at least two buses to get to the QMH and that could prove a big hurdle.

So while the cause is still there to be fought the community council will want the people of Dundonald to do their utmost to make the trial work if they are successful in persuading Stagecoach to agree to take part in the trial.

Benarty and Auchtertool are also affected by the proposed changes so it will be a time of concern for many people.