Labour Councillors Sandy Keith (Elgin City North) and Ben Williams (Fochabers Lhanbryde) have called for a new bus routes between Findhorn and Forres to be considered by Moray Council.

At a meeting of Moray Council on Tuesday, 13th August, councillors were invited to consider how the Council should proceed, with Stagecoach having cut the service between Findhorn and Forres.

Labour councillor Sandy Keith moved the recommendation that a route between the two ought to be considered by Moray Council as a part of the proposed expansion of Moray Council’s m.connect service. He also suggested that the Leader of the Council should write to the Minister responsible in the Scottish Government, suggesting that a change in the compensation bus companies receive could ensure that similar rural areas in Moray don’t lose out on their bus services, saying:

“We live in a rural area, and it could be another town, or set of towns that we could be considering at some point in the future.”

Councillor Keith’s call to recommend amending the Network Support Grant legislation found agreement with councillors of all parties.

Councillor Ben Williams (Fochabers Lhanbryde) also supported Councillor Keith’s call, saying:

“If we can provide a way for military spouses and families to have greater access to work and further education, if we can provide assistance to those in Findhorn and the surrounding areas who have been very active in their community organising here, to all of those in the area who have these travel requirements,  it seems to me that we ought to do so.”

Councillor Keith’s recommendation, including later contributions to also write to the Ministry of Defence, and Stagecoach, was passed unanimously by Moray Council.