Perth man rounds on Stagecoach over “dangerous” bus stops

Jan 8 2010 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BUS bosses yesterday refuted a radical suggestion that they should fund efforts to clear snow from Perth’s passenger pick-up points.

Furious Fair City resident Mike Murray contacted the PA to haul locally-based transport giants Stagecoach over the coals for an alleged “lack of respect” towards its customers amid the severe wintry conditions.

But the firm blasted back yesterday, insisting it would be unwilling to step on the local authority’s toes by wheeling out its own labour squad.

Mr Murray, who is a lecturer in construction management at Strathclyde University, hit out after experiencing difficulties while boarding Stagecoach’s number 7 ‘gold’ service near his Perth home.

He insisted that his controversial comments were motivated by concerns for elderly travellers, rather than any personal gripe with Stagecoach supremo Brian Soutar.

“On Glasgow Road, close to one of Mr Soutar’s houses, the pathway out to the bus stop was cleared of snow five or six days ago,” Mr Murray raged.

“I nearly slipped getting on the bus there and the firm should be clearing the path from the bus stop onto the bus.

“I am so incensed I am thinking of taking a pick-axe with me on the bus.

“It’s disgraceful. The bus drivers ask passengers to watch their step but how can they when there is compacted ice?

“Drivers are trying to keep their time, which is being put ahead of health and safety. They see the bus floor is wet but set off before people have sat down.

“Snow is up to the pavement and there’s been no effort to make a safe passage. Getting off at South Street I found a complete sheet of ice at the stop.

“It needs somebody to take a lead. Stagecoach should be responsible enough to think out of the box.

“But the buses’ windows are thick with dirt so perhaps there’s just not any pride left in the company.

“They should exercise commonsense and respect their passengers. After all, we’ll all be old some day.”

A Stagecoach spokeswoman told the PA the firm was working flat out to maintain reliable and safe services.

“Despite not being able to serve certain areas which were impassable due to snow and ice on some occasions, staff have been concentrating on getting our buses on the roads,” she said yesterday.

“The exterior of the vehicles can become very dirty in the current conditions, especially as our buses are on the roads all day.

“Freezing temperatures have also made it very difficult to use our bus wash, however we are doing our best to keep the standards of our services as high as normal to ensure that our passengers enjoy a safe and comfortable journey.”