A petition has been launched as First Bus services are set to return to a pre-Christmas schedule in Falkirk.
As of Monday, February 7, the timetables for services 1, 2, 3 and 4 which depart from the Larbert depot, are all set to change.
The number 1 service between Dunipace and Bridgend will run every 30 minutes between and throughout Monday to Saturday.
The bus will then be split at Maddiston so passengers travelling onward to Linlithgow or Bo’Ness will have to change buses there.
Meanwhile, the number 2 will see the introduction of two new journeys; firstly the 2115 Express Falkirk Newmarket Street to Limerigg.
Secondly, there will also be the 2145 Express Limerigg to Falkirk Vicar Street.
Services 3 and 4 will also be affected and will both operate every 60 mins throughout the day between Monday to Saturday.
First Bus wrote on their website: "We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to services and inconvenience to our customers and our teams are working extra hard to ensure as many buses run as is possible.
"We’ll be reviewing the situation on an ongoing basis and when absence levels improve, we’ll be working hard to reinstate more services as a matter of urgency."
However, a petition has since been launched due to the impact that the changes will have on commuters, especially those who are travelling onwards to other buses or forms of public transport, particularly in the dark.
It reads: "It is clear that First Bus cannot cope with the demand of the people of Falkirk and our surrounding area.
"That is why we are calling on Scottish Transport Commissioner Claire Gilmore and Falkirk Council to take action, protect our jobs, our trade, our commerce and our people."
The petition is calling for First Bus to reinstate the early service for commuters on early shifts and re-organise timetables more appropriately to meet connections or instead for another bus company to cover the gaps which First Bus cannot.
They also called for challenging operators robustly for delayed or cancelled services and for them to communicate more effectively when services are delayed or cancelled.
A First Bus Spokesperson said: “We are continuing to deal with driver shortages, the effects of which are being felt industry wide.
“We are working hard to increase driver numbers through our recruitment efforts and are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to services caused by these shortages.
“We would like to apologise to all customers who have been affected by the temporary changes.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Transport Commissioner Claire Gilmore confirmed that the commissioner does not have the power to object to changes if proper procedure is followed.
A spokesperson for Falkirk Council added that the have no involvement or influence on commercial services run by First Bus
