Ahead of the re-tendering of East Lothian Council’s supported bus services next year, the local authority is hosting six informal drop-in sessions next week to allow residents to have their say.

Currently three companies deliver commercial public transport bus services in East Lothian: First Scotland East, Lothian Buses and Perryman’s Buses.

The council also purchases additional supported bus services which provide essential links between various communities and are currently provided by companies such as Prentice Coaches and Eve Coaches.

A tendering process is due to take place in relation to the purchase of supported bus services from April 2015.

This process, says the council, will help to ensure that value for money continues to be achieved.

Councillor Michael Veitch, the local authority’s transport spokesman, said: “East Lothian Council invests a substantial sum of council tax-payers’ money providing additional local bus services and it’s therefore very important that local people have a say in which routes are tendered.

“We want to ensure that services correspond with demand as far as possible, and I look forward to discussing these issues with people across the county on October 3.” Users of the council’s supported bus services who are keen to voice their opinions on the re-tendering of the routes should attend one of the following drop-in sessions (all being held on Friday, October 3): Musselburgh: 9am at Brunton Hall – Interview Room 1; Tranent: 10am at George Johnstone Centre – Interview Room 1; Prestonpans: 11am at Local Area Office – Interview Room 1; Haddington: Noon at Town House – Meikle Room; North Berwick: 2pm at North Berwick Library – Interview Room 1; and, Dunbar: 3pm at Bleachingfield Centre – Interview Room 1.

Opinions can also be expressed online at www.eastlothianconsultations.co.uk