Strategic transport update and next steps agreed at meeting of Council
At the recent meeting of Full Council, a strategic transport update and next steps report was agreed by elected members that sets out key themes for the development of a strategic local transport plan and includes a suitable timeframe that will meet the Council's commitment to consider the needs, provision, and delivery models of transport across East Ayrshire.
There are two main transport strategies currently in place – Scotland’s National Transport Strategy (NTS2) and at a regional level the Council is a partner within the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which provides a regional strategic role and manages operational responsibilities for commercial, subsidised and mainstream school contracts. The Council supports SPT with £2.2.m of funding annually.
SPT is responsible for developing the regional transport strategy and a Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy was agreed in December 2025. The strategy aims to deliver a more frequent and reliable bus service, improve affordability, reform how bus services are planned and delivered and to improve infrastructure. This aligns with key areas of development and aspirations for East Ayrshire including Kilmarnock being identified as a key node point for wider travel and improving transport in rural areas.
The Council has taken a number of decisions that will shape the Local Transport Plan linking national and regional (SPT) strategies with wider Ayrshire needs, through for example the Ayrshire Roads Alliance review, and local ambitions; and needs to clearly set out actions that deliver benefits efficiently and effectively to local people and also fulfil the aims of the Community Wealth Building strategy.
Providing suitable Alternative School Transport, and protecting future service delivery, is a critical part of the Council’s statutory duties. The existing Alternative School Transport contracts expire in June 2027, and it has been agreed that the Council will begin a procurement exercise to purchase a small fleet of wheelchair accessible vehicles and standard minibuses to provide a service for the academic year 2027/28.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Spokesperson for Housing, Community and Transport said: “Transport is essential to the economic development of East Ayrshire. By improving transport links, including public transport, to all our communities we will enable businesses and people of all ages to thrive. The importance cannot be underestimated, and I look forward to future reports coming to Council that will set out clearly how we are going to improve infrastructure and public transport.
“In the short term our priority needs to be on delivering for our children and young people through a sustainable Alternative School Transport service. The Alternative School Transport policy introduced in 2025 has made a significant difference, helping to reduce reliance on taxi contracts and bringing the service nearer to budget but this alone can’t protect the service in the future. Council has therefore taken an innovative approach and has agreed that a small fleet of minibuses will be purchased for the academic year 2027/28.
“This will ensure that there are wheelchair accessible vehicles for children and young people throughout East Ayrshire.”