WEST Linton’s late-night link to the capital has been restored as part of a new pilot taxi service.

The project to provide a taxi link from Penicuik through the A702 corridor was given the green light last week with the service expected to begin before Christmas.

The new provision will fill the void left by the axing of two late night bus services last summer, which severed the area’s nighttime public transport links with Edinburgh.

Two evening services linking Dumfries and Edinburgh via West Linton and Carlops were dropped after the local authority took the decision to withdraw £100,000 of funding.

Start-up capital for the new project was secured by local residents and the pilot is set to run until March, after which the community will decide whether it can continue to be operationally viable.

Cllr Heather Anderson, Tweeddale West, said: “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that my fellow Tweeddale Councillors have now agreed to provide start-up funding for this community-run, late night taxi service.”

The 8-seater taxi will run for 6 evenings per week, excluding Sunday, leaving the bus stop at Lidl, Penicuik at 9.15pm, 10.15pm and 11.15pm, after the arrival of the X62 bus.

The taxi driver is guaranteed a set fee per trip and each passenger will pay £2.40 per trip.

Any shortfall in the set fee is subsidised by the grant and the operational timings of the pick-ups can be adjusted to ensure efficiency.

The new scheme will be operated by West Linton Community Council and membership is open to residents of Carlops, West Linton and Dolphinton and in-between. Residents interested in the service can contact wlcctaxi@gmail.com to register.

Cllr Heather Anderson added: “I also want to thank Graham Tulloch, the Chair of West Linton Community Council, and his committee, who stepped up to the plate and agreed to pilot the scheme.

“It’s a great result and if this model works, it could be replicated in other rural communities where rural public transport isn’t an option."