COMMUTERS have called on bus operators to put the brakes on plans to axe a key service linking several Renfrewshire villages with Glasgow.

Stagecoach proposes to withdraw the X37 service from Ardrossan to Glasgow via Lochwinnoch from June – much to the dismay of commuters who rely on the service to get to the city.

The twice-daily service stops in Lochwinnoch, Howwood, Corseford and Spateston en route to Glasgow city centre.

The operator says it has been forced into the decision by low demand – with as little as six passengers from the villages using the service each day on average.

However, commuters are less convinced, especially those in Lochwinnoch where hundreds of people opposed the plan during a Stagecoach consultation.

Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Lochwinnoch, told the Gazette: “I have responded to the Stagecoach consultation on the withdrawal of the X37 service in the strongest terms as this will have an extremely detrimental effect on my Lochwinnoch constituents, in particular, who work in Glasgow.

“I have suggested to them that if they care about communities like Lochwinnoch they should perhaps reduce the number of buses but retain the X37 in some shape or form.”

The proposed plans to withdraw the X37 service from Ardrossan to Glasgow via Lochwinnoch are set to come in place from Sunday, June 4.

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach West Scotland said: “It is with regret that due to low passenger demand we are proposing to withdraw the service.

“The service operates on a commercial basis with no local authority support and following long term monitoring of passenger numbers it has become clear that it is no longer viable to continue to operate the service.”