Pensioners' anger as bus route is cut after parking ban

Elderly passengers have lost a vital Hamilton bus service - because the road has become blocked by vehicles now parking on the carriageway following the introduction of the nationwide pavement parking ban.

- MIKE MCQUAID AND JUDITH TONNER

The 226 route between Hillhouse and the town centre has been re-routed to avoid Brankholm Brae for the past two months after drivers began encountering “access issues” with buses unable to manoeuvre past cars now being parked wholly on the roadway, to avoid the new £100 fines for stopping on kerbs.

Angry passengers say pensioners relying on the service now face a 15-minute walk to the nearest alternative stop, and say “They should have left well alone.”

Service operator First Bus declared the street “inaccessible” for their vehicles within weeks of the pavement parking ban starting to be enforced as increased parking congestion narrowed the road space available for passing vehicles, leading to vehicles becoming “stuck” or having to reverse.

They have now implemented a diversion using Fleming Way and Townhill Road which misses out four of the route’s regular bus stops.

Regular passenger Janet Rodwell, 78, said: “It’s all elderly folk around here and many are not fit to walk a distance to the bus stop. The bus is free and not everyone can afford a taxi.

“The authorities are making money from parking fines without a thought for the rest of us. They should have left well alone - cars parked on the pavement don’t bother me as long as the buses get past.”