Friday February 27th 2026
Lothian bus in Dalkeith
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
More than 150 residents packed into a public meeting in Rosewell last night to voice anger and concern over the withdrawal of a key bus service connecting communities across Midlothian with the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and local amenities including supermarkets.
The meeting had to be moved to a larger room due to overwhelming attendance, as pensioners, NHS staff, carers and disabled residents shared powerful testimony about the impact the cuts will have on their daily lives.
One young girl spoke movingly about her grandmother, who lives with dementia and relies on routine — including the regular bus service — to maintain her independence. Nurses and NHS staff described the serious challenges they now face getting to work. Disabled residents and carers outlined how essential the route has been in allowing them to access healthcare, employment and community life.
The bus operator, Lothian Buses, has described the withdrawal as a financial decision based on passenger numbers. Many residents strongly disputed that characterisation.
Caitlin Stott, Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Midlothian North, said:
“What we saw tonight was the human impact of this decision. This is not an optional extra — it is a lifeline connecting our communities to hospital appointments, work in our NHS, and everyday essentials.
We’ve been told there are ‘winners and losers’ from this decision. It was absolutely clear from the strength of feeling in that room that the people of Rosewell and surrounding communities are being treated as the losers — and that is simply not acceptable.”
Derek Milligan, Labour Councillor for Bonnyrigg, acknowledged the strength of feeling in the room and agreed that cutting the service was not acceptable.
SNP MSP Colin Beattie also attended the meeting. During the discussion, Caitlin Stott secured a public commitment from him for a joint cross-party letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Lothian Buses calling for urgent reconsideration of the cuts.
Following the meeting, Ms Stott committed to:
– Gathering detailed written testimonies from residents who signed the petition;
– Producing a formal community impact briefing;
– Submitting a Freedom of Information request to establish the basis for the decision;
– Seeking an urgent meeting with Lothian Buses to press for the service to be reviewed.
She added:
“If the figures being quoted don’t reflect the lived reality of this community, then we need transparency. We will gather the evidence, we will present it formally, and we will demand that this decision is looked at again.
Our communities deserve better than being written off.”
Residents who were unable to attend are encouraged to share their experiences to be included in the community briefing.
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