A HADDINGTON bus company is launching a new service designed to link residents with the town centre.

Prentice Coaches’ 101 is launched on November 7 and provides an hourly service to areas of Haddington that are some distance from the main bus routes or served only sporadically by other bus routes.

It will also provide a connection between the Nungate area of Haddington and the 108 service to Musselburgh and Fort Kinnaird.

Ross Prentice, managing director, told the Courier: “We have for some time been concerned that there are areas of Haddington where people, and the elderly in particular, have a considerable walk to the nearest bus stop or the town centre.

“We believe that as our town grows, new solutions are needed to provide access for local shopping, hospital and doctor’s appointments, etc. The 101 town service will hopefully address some of these issues.”

Initially, the route will operate Monday to Friday between school times, but it will be evaluated in the new year.

Also next month, extra services will be added to the 108 service between Haddington and Fort Kinnaird.

Mr Prentice added: “We launched the service back in August to replace the withdrawn First bus route.

“We are now confident the route has a long-term future and have purchased a brand new ‘Eco-Friendly’ bus, which is branded for the route.

“There will be a new early-morning journey to Musselburgh and two additional return journeys to Fort Kinnaird on weekdays, with an additional three return journeys on Saturdays.

“To promote the new 101 and our timetable changes to the 108, 110 and 111 services, we will be attending the Haddington Farmers’ Market on Saturday with our ‘microbus’ and look forward to explaining our plans to the community.”