In my last column for the Gazette, I wrote about the importance of local shops for communities like Stockbridge and the New Town. Another important service for local communities is the bus network, and that’s about to become an issue in the area once more.

Many readers will remember that the No 13 bus through the New Town was threatened with being withdrawn. At the last minute, Edinburgh City Council agreed to provide only enough funding to keep the section of the route between the New Town and Ravelston. The rest of the route was withdrawn between Bellevue, McDonald Road, Leith and Lochend.

Now, the Council will be looking at the future of this route again. The options will range from extending the service, to withdrawing the service entirely! I want to see the service kept, and hopefully restored to its original full length. So along with local residents, I’ve launched a campaign calling on the Council and Lothian Buses to reinstate the full No 13 route, as part of a wider campaign to improve bus services in the area.

Restoring the number 13 will give local residents a better choice of buses, and relieve pressure on the number 36 and other local buses. With timetable improvements, it could also provide a better frequency for local residents.

The options the Council are considering include:

1. Keeping the existing ‘short’ 13 route
2. Reestablishing the ‘old’ 13 route through Broughton to Leith and Findlay Gardens
3. Extending the route at each end, to serve Craigleith in the west, and to cover the former 12 route to Seafield which was also cut
4. Cutting the service frequency from every 30 minutes to 60 minutes
5. and if they don’t like any of the options, the Council could withdraw the 13 completely

If you support our efforts to bring back the 13, and/or are concerned about other local bus services, such as the No 17 which has been taken off completely, then please join us. You can find details on our website at
http://bringbackourbuses.blogspot.com/
and support our online petition at
http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/26914/sign.html
We also have a Facebook group.

But hurry – the Council is making a decision on these options in the first week of May, people who are concerned about these services need to make their voices heard now!