Transport operator warns of possible withdrawal
Borders Buses may remove its staff from Galashiels Transport Interchange if continuing anti-social behaviour is not brought under control, according to a warning raised in the UK Parliament. The operator has asked for a regular, visible security presence at the facility, saying conditions have already affected the way its customer services are provided.
The incidents highlighted include timetable leaflets being set on fire and intimidation directed towards staff. As a result, the customer service hub has been closed, while the adviser who worked there has been moved to another floor of the building for their safety. Borders Buses has indicated that, if the situation does not improve, it may have to consider withdrawing from the interchange altogether.
The concern was brought forward by Borders MP John Lamont, who described the reported behaviour as “completely unacceptable”. He said the interchange was an important facility for people using local bus services and for those travelling through Galashiels, which he referred to as the gateway to the Borders railway.
“Now, for the many people in the Borders who do not drive that would be a devastating loss. This is the true cost of anti-social behaviour.”
Calls for stronger protection at transport hubs
Mr Lamont said he was concerned that new Scottish Government measures intended to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses did not cover incidents taking place at bus stations. His intervention therefore focused on the protection available to people working in transport hubs and railway stations, as well as the wider consequences for passengers if services are reduced or staff are withdrawn.
He said Borders Buses operates in several parts of Scotland, including Glasgow, but faces some of its most serious anti-social behaviour in the Scottish Borders. The company’s staff at Galashiels are responsible for customer-facing support at a location used by people making journeys across the region, making the possible loss of the facility’s staffed presence a significant local concern.
| Reported issue | Effect described |
|---|---|
| Leaflets set on fire | Damage and disruption at the interchange |
| Intimidation of staff | Customer service adviser moved to another floor |
| Ongoing anti-social behaviour | Request for visible security and possible staff withdrawal |
The concerns raised relate not only to the operator’s workforce but also to the availability of help for passengers. The customer service hub’s closure means that an element of the interchange’s normal support has already been affected. A withdrawal of Borders Buses staff would represent a further change at a transport point on which people who do not drive depend.
Impact on local connectivity
Mr Lamont thanked Borders Buses employees for their dedication and called for improved support for people working in transport hubs and railway stations. His comments place responsibility for the response on the need to make such locations safer, particularly as darker evenings increase the operator’s concern about security. The company’s request is for a consistent, visible presence rather than a response only after incidents occur.
For Galashiels, the dispute has a clear practical dimension. The interchange is a point where passengers seek information and access bus services, while its connection with the Borders railway gives it importance beyond the immediate bus network. The warning from Borders Buses is that without a change in conditions, anti-social behaviour could affect both staff arrangements and the support available to travellers. No withdrawal has been announced, but the operator has made clear that it is considering that step if improvements are not made.
