Staff at Stirling’s biggest bus firm have been told its Bannockburn depot will shut, with all operations moving to Camelon, near Larbert. McGill’s Midland Bluebird said it was consulting with employees and trade unions over the “potential” change that would see the Cowie Road depot close. But a message sent to McGill’s staff on May 29 from the bus operator’s human resources department and seen by The Courier suggests the decision has already been made.
It opens: “Today, we are announcing that we are amalgamating our Forth Valley operations at Larbert as part of a wider transformation of our operations across the Forth Valley region.” It goes on: “Bannockburn has played an important role serving local communities, and this decision is in no way a reflection on the dedication of the teams who work there.”
The bus firm said it was committed to engaging openly and honestly with employees and trade union groups. It also pledged to support staff with “redeployment opportunities”. The two McGill’s depots are about seven miles apart. The company said it would offer financial assistance to anyone with a longer commute as a result of the Bannockburn closure.
One employee who wished to remain anonymous said that while bus drivers could easily relocate to Camelon, they had concerns for I note McGill’s stated intentions to close the Bannockburn bus depot with concern. “While no impact to service delivery or staff headcount is anticipated, this nonetheless brings disruption to staff who have been based in Bannockburn for many years. “My thoughts are with the staff during this uncertain time. “I will relay my concerns on this development with McGill’s and seek assurances that any disruption will be minimised.” Unite the Union was contacted for comment. and other workers. A spokesperson for Midland Bluebird said: “We can confirm we are consulting on the potential consolidation of our Forth Valley network which would result in all services operating from our Larbert Depot. “This follows a comprehensive review of our operational requirements across the Forth Valley region. “Bannockburn has served local communities and supported public transport across the region for many years.
“However, with Larbert and Bannockburn located only six miles apart, continuing to operate both sites poses challenges in managing our service delivery both effectively and sustainably. “Bringing operations together has the potential to allow us to take a more coordinated regional approach, strengthening the resilience and reliability of services while creating a firmer platform for future investment.
“This includes ongoing fleet improvements, decarbonisation, and the potential development of Bus Rapid Transit corridors across Forth Valley.
“Services will continue to operate as normal as we undertake the consultation and passengers should not experience any disruption. “There will be no change to any bus routes. Our priority now is to seek the views of our colleagues and answer any questions they may have. “We will continue to engage closely with employees and their trade unions as the process moves forward.” Alasdair Tollemache, Stirling councillor and convener of the council’s Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee said: “Bus transport plays a vital role for our communities in the Stirling area. I note McGill’s stated intentions to close the Bannockburn bus depot with concern.
“While no impact to service delivery or staff headcount is anticipated, this nonetheless brings disruption to staff who have been based in Bannockburn for many years. “My thoughts are with the staff during this uncertain time. “I will relay my concerns on this development with McGill’s and seek assurances that any disruption will be minimised.” Unite the Union was contacted for comment.
