Kathryn Anderson

UHI Perth and the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association are urging Stagecoach to postpone the planned withdrawal of the X56 Perth–Edinburgh service and changes to routes 15 and 15A. Students and parents fear longer, more complicated journeys and reduced access to classes and part-time work could force some students to abandon their courses. Stagecoach says the X56 has been substantially loss-making and that there is no commercially viable way to continue it, suggesting a local-authority-funded replacement if the connection is deemed socially necessary. Perth and Kinross Council is exploring options, while MSP Jim Fairlie and MP Pete Wishart support delaying the changes pending consultation.

Letham4All reported serious vandalism and verbal abuse from a small group of youths following a successful community event, causing financial damage and harming staff morale. Community members and local councillors condemned the behaviour and expressed strong support for the charity and its services, urging respect for community spaces and staff.

Timetable changes to the 615 bus service between Crieff and Perth have doubled commuting costs after operations were split between Stagecoach and Docherty’s Midland Coaches, making multi-journey Stagecoach tickets unusable. The service now runs only on school days and does not operate during holidays, forcing commuters onto earlier buses. Perth and Kinross Council says it is working with operators to maintain access and explore mitigation measures, while Stagecoach explains the change resulted from a competitive tendering process and directs service design enquiries to the council.

Delays in civil service pension payments since Capita assumed administration have left many former civil servants without income for months, prompting financial hardship and anger. Perth MP Pete Wishart and the UK Government have condemned the situation, and the Cabinet Office has initiated an urgent recovery plan while offering temporary loans. Personal accounts from affected families highlight administrative failures, lost paperwork, and prolonged distress. The Scottish Prison Service has criticised the delays and is providing transitional support as efforts continue to resolve outstanding cases.

Tesco’s £8.75 million superstore in Pitlochry is set to open in early 2027 after Perth and Kinross Licensing Board granted a provisional licence for the site. The development, originally approved in 2011 for Sainsbury’s, proceeded under existing planning permission and is expected to create up to 100 jobs. Councillors raised no objections, and local representatives welcomed the project as a beneficial addition to the community.

Perth and Kinross Council approved the introduction of a 300 percent council tax surcharge on long-term empty homes starting July 1, expected to generate up to £800,000 annually. Councillors also voted to extend the maximum discretionary relief period to two years, allowing flexibility for owners facing legitimate delays or financial pressures. Political groups split on the issue, with the SNP supporting the original surcharge and the Conservatives leading efforts to expand discretion. Council officials confirmed the tax will also affect some council-owned properties and outlined limits set by national legislation.