Saturday February 28th 2026
Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
Following the bus meeting on Thursday night, 200 residents pack Rosewell meeting over hospital bus cuts, Midlotrhian View has been contacted by Councillor Derek Milligan and MSP Colin Beattie with further information and what action they have taken.
Labour Group Leader, Councillor Derek Milligan said:
“Lothian buses don’t consult with councillors or the public before making these decisions.
“Lothian Buses announce their service changes once they have decided what they will be, they then register them with the Scottish Government traffic commissioner by which time it’s to late to influence them.
“As I understand Lothian announcement the so called alternative replacement service 39 will run hourly from around 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday from Cameron Crecent, Hardengreen ending at Dalkeith Campus. A single decker bus on an hourly run with no evening or Sunday service. This bus doesn’t serve the RIE [Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Hospital] and is simply not going to replace a service that ran every 20 min seven days a week from 6am till 11.40pm.
“This leaves the whole of Bonnyrigg and Roswell without a direct bus to the Royal Infirmary.
“Rosewell and top side of Bonnyrigg / Poltonhall in the evenings and Sundays without a bus to the Community Hospital, out of hours doctors services or a local major shopping outlet such as Tesco or Morrisons.
“This decision has huge ramifications for a care worker who relied on the 46 Bus to get around their clients who require care at home.
“I met with senior executives from Lothian Buses on Tuesday 3rd February to explain my serious concerns around this matter.
“However as the changes are already registered with the traffic commissioners the bus company are adamant that the service 46 is not viable.
“One of the reasons given is the fact that Lothian only receive a fraction of the fare, around 65%, from the Scottish government from passengers using the under 22 yrs and over 60s bus passes.
“The Scottish Government need to legislate to force bus companies to consult with councils and service users before making these decision’s or better still reintroduce re regulation of the bus services completely.”
Midlothian MSP Colin Beattie said:
“On Thursday night I attended a meeting in Rosewell regarding recent changes to Lothian Bus services, attended by around 150 concerned residents. I’ve been engaging closely with Lothian Buses since the adjustments to Services 46 and 48 were first announced. I know how much these routes matter to residents across Midlothian, especially when it comes to reaching hospitals, workplaces, and essential appointments.
“Many people have shared the difficulties these changes have created, and it’s clear that accessible, direct connections remain a vital need for our communities. My work on this will continue, and I’m committed to making sure those concerns are clearly understood.
“I’ll keep pushing for constructive discussions between the relevant organisations so that every part of Midlothian is properly served and residents have the reliable transport links they deserve. This includes asking the City of Edinburgh Council, as a 91% shareholder in Lothian Buses, to ask the transport provider to get around a table and discuss the impact of these latest decisions and review. And following last night’s meeting I have agreed to a cross-party letter to Lothian Buses to further enhance the impact on constituents.”
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