Bus bosses have been slammed for reducing the frequency of services linking Johnstone and Kilbarchan with Paisley and Glasgow.

Tom Wallace, chairman of Johnstone Community Council, hit out at McGill’s after the firm announced it is to run fewer buses on the number 38 service to and from Spateston and Kilbarchan.

The move will see services reduced from five an hour to just three.

A shortened 38 route from Johnstone to Glasgow will run every 10 minutes, while the link between Paisley and the city centre will operate every five minutes.

The changes, which kick in on March 26, come at a time when McGill’s is being criticised for withdrawing its number 8 service, linking Linwood with Johnstone, and number 19 route between Paisley and Johnstone, stopping in Bridge of Weir and Houston.

Mr Wallace fears villagers are being ignored.

He told The Gazette: “It’s as if the villages are going to end up cut off.

“Many people can’t afford a car or can’t drive for medical reasons. For lots of people, having buses running is a necessity.

“You cannot allow people’s lives to be regulated through the balance sheet of a bus company. It might be good for the company but it’s not good for the people.

“At a time when the administration at Holyrood is trying to promote the use of public transport, there must first be a proper network.”

A protest against the cancellation of services was held in Linwood last month and politicians have met with bosses at McGill’s in an effort to convince them to U-turn.

Mr Wallace said: “It is essential to residents of Johnstone and surrounding villages these services are maintained.

“People at the protest were asking me what the point of a bus pass was if there are no buses to use it on.”

McGill’s is also to alter its number 20 service, with buses no longer serving the Gallowhill area of Paisley and, instead, terminating at Whitehaugh.

Ralph Roberts, McGill’s managing director, said: “The people of Spateston, Johnstone, Cochrane Castle and Johnstone Castle have subsidised these routes for more than four years but the falling patronage trend means this can no longer continue.”