Local Bus Services

[Bob Jefferson]

From Maureen Child:

I have just heard a bit of good news from Bill Campbell, operations manager of Lothian Buses plc on a partial replacement for the No 12 connection between Magdalene and Christians and Portobello High Street in non-peak daytime.

You may remember me telling you that I arranged a meeting In October with Lothian Buses managing director, Ian Craig and Bill Campbell with the Chair of Magdalene Neighbourhood Association, Rosemary Moffat. I also wrote subsequently, supporting representations made by Portobello Community Council and the Portobello Traders.

As a result of our joint efforts, Lothian Buses have done further survey work on the current numbers using No 69 the 'shopper bus' which serves Northfield and have agreed to extend the No 69 so that the bus takes in a wider loop along Milton Road.

The new route will go Portobello High Street - Mountcastle Drive North - Northfield Broadway - Willowbrae/Lady Nairne loop - Milton Road - Brunstane - Sir Harry Lauder Road - Portobello High Street. It would operate as a one-way loop. This means that passengers from Brunstane/Milton Road to Portobello would get to Portobello direct, via Sir Harry Lauder Road, but on the return journey it would take a bit longer, going via Northfield and Willowbrae.

The time period of operation would be roughly 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, every 30 minutes.

This is not the re-instatement of the No 12, as people might have hoped. But it is an improvement on the current situation - no direct bus at all between Milton Road/Brunstane and Portobello.

This new, extended No 69 service will be announced today. It will start on 21 January, if all goes according to plan.

Regards

Maureen

Councillor Maureen Child
Elected Member for Milton Ward
Executive Member for Sustainability and Finance
City Chambers
High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1YJ
Tel: 0131 529 3268