81-year-old Portsoy carer: "Always late" Stagecoach buses my daughter uses are "trash" and "a shambles"
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A PORTSOY carer (81) has hit out at the village's bus services and said: “I’m sick of them, just absolutely sick of them."
Patricia Barclay lives with her 55-year-old daughter Linda Barclay, who is deaf and has learning disabilities.
Linda uses services buses to get to Banff Day Services (BDS) twice a week, and Macduff once a week, accompanied to and from the bus stop by BDS staff.
Her daughter "loves" the sessions, having gone regularly for more than 40 years, and taking the number 35 bus gives her "a little more independence", said Patricia.
However, since the Pandemic and an August timetable change, the route has turned from "a good service" into "a shambles, just a shambles", where buses are "always late" and sometimes pass by her waiting daughter, she claimed.
New timetables have forced Linda to start taking earlier buses to Banff and Macduff and a later buses home.
And, since the X35 service does not stop in Portsoy, her daughter faces an hour wait for the next bus if she cannot make it.
As a result, Patricia said, she is regularly left worrying for Linda's safety.
“It is always half an hour late – never on time," she said.
“And if she missed that bus, anything could happen.
“It’s draining for me, because I have to look after her."
Since Linda's father died 23 years ago, Patricia said, she and her daughter have lived together in the family home.
Her daughter's Banff Day Services sessions have become a linchpin for both of them, she added.
Patricia said: “It's a big part of Linda's life and everybody just loves her there.
“She does all the embroidery for them.
“And it gives me time to do everything I want to do at home.
“But I just get worried about her getting back."
Patricia also hit out at the condition of buses stopping in Portsoy, claiming that Linda experiences knock-on delays from on-road breakdowns "every week".
"The buses in Portsoy are just trash," she said.
“They aren't looking after their buses, especially those low liners.
“And they need more drivers.
“They are a shambles, just a shambles, and you can’t depend on them.
“I’m sick of them, I am absolutely sick of them."
A spokesperson for Stagecoach North Scotland said: "Should any customers have an issue with any of our services we would urge them to contact us direct providing details of the date, time, stop and service to allow us to fully investigate the matter."
