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There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to a petition comprising around 570 signatures, submitted by Ms E McCrindle in the following terms:
“This petition is to highlight real concerns about the number 21 McGills bus, now no longer servicing passengers back and forward to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, instead terminating at Braehead. This is a very valuable service to the residents of Arkleston and Newmains, and other areas of Renfrew.
We would like the opportunity to discuss this further at Renfrewshire Council Petitions Board, in the hope that our concerns can be passed on to SPT in order that certain services are subsidising hospital services”.
The report advised that the Director of Environment and Infrastructure had indicated that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) were aware of the withdrawal of McGills number 21 service to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and that this now terminated at Braehead. However, there were a further two services that operated from Braehead to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on a better than ten-minute frequency
The Board heard from Ms E McCrindle in support of the petition and from the Transportation Manager.
Councillor Adam-McGregor, seconded by Councillor Campbell moved that the petition be referred to the relevant Director for further investigation with the recommendation that the Director write to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and McGills Bus Company to make them aware of the Petition seeking reinstatement of the Service and asking that they explain their decision in relation to the removal of the service between Renfrew and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Councillor Sharkey, seconded by Councillor Brown, moved as an amendment that the Board agreed to urge that the No. 21 bus service between Renfrew and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital be reinstated and call on representatives from McGills Bus Company be to attend a future meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board to explain their actions.
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Brown and Sharkey.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam-McGregor, Burns, Campbell, Graham, Hughes, Kerr and Steel.
Two members having voted for the amendment and seven members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried
DECIDED: That the petition be referred to the relevant Director for further investigation with the recommendation that the Director write to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and McGills Bus Company to make them aware of the Petition seeking reinstatement of the Service and asking that they explain their decision in relation to the removal of the service between Renfrew and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.