South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has today demanded a cap on bus fares and action to prevent more cuts in the south of Scotland.

The local MSP warned that buses in his constituency were at risk of being “wiped out” if we don’t act to keep fares down and prevent routes being cut.

Latest research shows that in 2021, 60 per cent of bus users in the Scottish Borders, 46 per cent in South Ayrshire and 34 per cent in South Lanarkshire did not agree that bus fares were good value for money – and many passengers have seen prices soar again since that point.

Annual Scottish Transport Statistics have shown bus passenger numbers in local authorities across the south of Scotland are struggling to recover from the pandemic, with the number of passenger journeys being taken in South West and Strathclyde still 35 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

This follows years of long-term decline under the SNP, which has seen bus passenger numbers in this region have dropped by a staggering 58 per cent.

Colin Smyth has warned that buses in Scotland are “on the brink of collapse” and slated SNP and Green MSPs for voting against Labour’s motion.

Colin Smyth said: “Bus networks across the south of Scotland are on the brink of collapse, but the SNP-Green government is missing in action.

“We have seen services axed across the area, yet fares continue to rise.

“If we don’t act now we will see routes wiped out, rural communities cut off, local people left with no public transport options, and more cars on the road than ever.

“We urgently need to cap fares and take action to protect services, which is why Scottish Labour raised the issue in the Parliament – but the SNP and the Greens refuse to listen.

“We need to act now to end years of decline and prevent our bus networks being decimated.

“It is four years since I lodged amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill to lift the ban on council-run bus services, yet this Government has still not passed on to councils the powers that I secured, never mind given them the resources that they need to set up their own publicly and community-owned bus services.”