Service cuts 'blackmail'
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• An application for• a considerable number of cuts to bus services in the Border area has been made by Western SMT Co Ltd. It is likely to be heard within a few weeks, and one area which will be seriously affected is Langholm.
Mr Edward C. Armstrong, town clerk, said last week: -We are being 'blackmailed'. It would appear that Western SMT wish to cut entirely the services between Langholm —Carlisle and Langhohn—Annan."
A spokesman for the Scottish Bus Group stated that the reason for seeking cuts was that the services affected were proving unremunerative. The SBG was "directly instructed by Parliament to run these services on the basis of viability", he said.
Western SMT is also planning to increase the number of routes in the Borders served by one-man buses as a further economy measure. This will lead to half the conducting staff at Lockerbie depot being declared redundant.