Park and ride buses to bring shoppers in
Published at 21:35, Wednesday, 27 June 2012
A NEW Park and Ride scheme is now operating in Langholm.
The idea behind the scheme is to encourage people visiting the Kilngreen to come into the town and spend money to boost the High Street retailers.
People can now leave their cars at the Kilngreen and travel into the town by bus. The journey takes two minutes.
The timetable for Route 120 came into force on Monday. The journey is free for bus pass holders; others pay a minimal charge.
George Whillans, Langholm community councillor, said: “This is one of the ways I believe we can regenerate the High Street.
“I have been chatting to some people on the Kilngreen and they have told me that they might travel to the town and have a picnic or feed the ducks but they wouldn’t necessarily visit the town centre. This new park and ride scheme enables them to do that.”
Timetables are being displayed around the town in shops, businesses and hotels. Mr Whillans said: “This is the right time to launch the Park and Ride scheme. There are new owners at the Eskdale Hotel and the Crown Hotel and Truly Scrumptious is open until later.
“There is also a new antiques shop and one by one things are opening up. We want to try and link everyone together.
“It is also good news for disabled people as the pavement is quite narrow for wheelchairs.”
The go-ahead was given by Dumfries and Galloway Council to help fund the scheme last Thursday morning and four days later it was up and running.
The buses are operated by South West Transport.
Buses leave the Kilngreen at 9.06am, 10.36am, 11.36am, 12.36pm and 2.31pm.
The service operates Monday to Saturday.
Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk
