MSP JEANE Freeman feels positive about the possibility of the council being able to run a direct bus from Cumnock to Glasgow.

It comes after local authorities were given the power to run their own bus services in competition with private operators, like Stagecoach.

The Cumnock Chronicle has been campaigning for a direct bus to be introduced to improve links to the city centre after residents told us they have been left feeling cut off and stranded since Stagecoach axed the X76 last year.

These new changes could mean residents might enjoy a direct journey in the future - despite Stagecoach refusing to back down on their claims that there is no demand for the bus.

The bus giant insists it would not be appropriate to return the bus even though over 500 residents have signed a petition begging the service to come back.

But now the council could run their own bus now that the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee passed two amendments during Stage two of the Transport Bill.

When we asked the local authority if they had plans to introduce a similar service to replace the X76 they said they are ‘considering how services can be improved at a local level.’

Ms Freeman, who has publicly backed our campaign in the past, said: “The amendment passed to the Transport Bill at Stage 2 last week will allow local transport authorities to set up companies which would operate in a similar manner to Lothian buses, providing local services within a commercial market.

“Local transport authority companies will be able to operate in the same way as any other commercial bus operators and subject to all the current registration and licensing requirements of the Traffic Commissioner and as with the parliamentary passage of all bills, the Transport Bill will return to the Scottish Parliament at Stage 3 for final approval.

“If approved, East Ayrshire Council and SPT would need to consider whether they would use these new powers to reinstate or establish new bus routes in this area.”

A spokesperson for the council said : “East Ayrshire Council is working closely with Coalfield Community Transport and Stagecoach to ensure that local bus services meet the needs of our communities and to improve existing services.

“Following on from the recent amendment to the Transport Bill at the Scottish Parliament, the council will also consider how services can be improved at a local level.”