BUS services to Biggar and West Linton are seen by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) as being “under-utilised” and not “cost effective”, a meeting has been told.

There is a proposed change to a “dial-a-bus” type of scheme, more like a taxi service, for the Borders Buses operated 91 service to Biggar and 93 to West Linton when the contract is up for renewal later this year.

Tweeddale West councillors Viv Thomson, Eric Small and Drummond Begg detailed the changes in a letter sent to all community councils.

At West Linton Community Council (WLCC) on Monday evening they expanded on how the plan may operate.

WLCC chairman Mark McDavid voiced his concern about the plan, referencing the potential cutting of the 101 service to Edinburgh, which first surfaced two years ago when a bus driver spoke about it to a passenger.

Mr McDavid said: “Some of the wounds are not healed yet and this smells like another one.

“What is really the offer and why is it better than what we have now?”

Ms Thomson stressed that the draft proposal is just at a concept stage.

She said: “The actual proposal has yet to be drafted and will need to go through a formal consultation and tendering process – we are merely asking if communities think this is a better, more flexible approach for those living in a rural area.”

The suggestion is similar to the Pingo scheme, run by Borders Buses in Berwickshire.

Passengers would be able to book the ‘taxi bus’ to get them to a particular place or to link in with another bus service.

For instance, someone at Garvald trying to get to Edinburgh outwith the 101/103 timetable could book a slot to be taken up to Penicuik to a wider option of buses for their onward journey.

Trips would have to be booked by 4pm the previous day, although journeys on the day of travel could be accepted if they fit the timetable and could be shared.

The councillors said: “As well as being a more tailored and flexible option, it does go some way to reducing carbon emissions if large empty buses are not on our roads when they don’t need to be, and it may also be more cost effective.”

It is thought that the service would operate over seven days, with later operating times than the current service.

SBC and Borders Buses were asked to comment.