Stuarts Coaches save 231 service in Clyde Valley

IN A major boost to Clydesdale bus users, the axed 231 service between Lanark and Hamilton – controversially ditched by First Bus – has now been taken on by Carluke firm Stuarts Coaches.

The intervention by Stuarts Coaches comes after First Bus finally pulled the plug on Sunday, less than a year after landing the service following the abrupt collapse of the local McKindless bus network.

A First Bus spokeswoman said that the 231 service was axed as part of a decision to cut back on underused services and the company, she said, would still be running its 240 service to Lanark.

The spokeswoman added: "Service 231 operated direct from Hamilton to Lanark. Now to travel from Hamilton to Lanark on First services, customers would travel on service 267 from Hamilton to Motherwell then change onto the 240 service from Motherwell to Lanark."

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.