PEOPLE power has saved a vital Kilwinning to Irvine bus service from being completely scrapped.

A campaign to keep the Number 27 running between the two towns has been successful, with the service one of a number to be taken over by Shuttle Buses.

Stagecoach announced in May they would be scrapping the Whitehirst Park to Irvine service along with the popular Irvine to Stewarton service 13.

But since then Shuttle Buses have stepped in to secure the running of both services until at least 2019 after weeks of talks with SPT.

The eleventh hour saving of the Number 27 is one of many changes to the Kilwinning bus network.

From July 17, the old service 27 route through Kilwinning will be taken over by service 29, which will extend from the current route of Montgomerie Park in Irvine to Irvine Cross before following the 27 route to Whitehirst Park.

However the changes will result in service 320 in Kilwinning being reduced to just three times per day, with service 38, also run by Shuttle Buses, covering the stops of the service being removed.

Shuttle Buses will continue to operate the early morning Kilwinning to Irvine service under number 27, with daytime and evening services renumbered to 29.

Service 13/113 from Irvine to Stewarton via Perceton and Kilmaurs has also been saved and will run on a slightly altered timetable from July 17 this year until July 13, 2019.

Kilwinning Councillor Joe Cullinane welcomed the news, saying "people power" saved the day.

He said: “This is another example of people power winning out. This decision means the retention of a bus service in Whitehirst Park and the Corsehill and ensures that no one in the town is left without a bus.

“I want to express my thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign. By coming together we have made a difference to everyone who relied on the 27 bus service.”

Fellow Kilwinning Councillor Donald Reid said he was delighted at the news: “Since Stagecoach announced the removal of service 27 I immediately engaged with SPT and Shuttle Buses to see what could be achieved.

“I’m delighted that we have such a positive outcome as quickly although I have always been confident with the early discussions seeing a service maintained, the service is partly subsidised but it still needs regular users to ensure its viability so would urge users where possible to continue to support the local service where this is a choice.”

Commenting on the reduction in the 320 service, Councillor Cullinane added:

“This news does however come with a tinge of disappointment. I campaigned to retain the 320 service in 2014 and was delighted to play my part in securing the 38 service which provided my constituents in the Woodwynd and Blacklands with a direct bus service into Irvine.

“When I learned that SPT could reduce the 320 service as part of this review I put forward my own proposal to them that would have meant no reduction in bus services across the town and would have improved them.

"Unfortunately, I was advised by SPT, shortly before the award of the new contract, that my proposal was rejected on financial grounds.

“I have spent four years as a Councillor campaigning for better bus services and I will continue to do so until we have a system which puts the needs of communities before the interests of bus company profits.”