TRANSPORT Minister Keith Brown is facing a revolt from Edinburgh and Glasgow councillors over changes to bus funding which they say will have a disproportionate effect on passengers in urban areas.

A letter signed by all the local party leaders in Edinburgh – including the SNP – has lambasted cuts to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and a change in how the subsidy is awarded which they say will penalise council-owned Lothian Buses.

The attack has been echoed by Gordon Matheson, the Labour leader of Glasgow City Council, who said cities were the "big losers" from the cuts, which take effect from tomorrow.

The Herald revealed in February that urban operators would bear the brunt of a 20% cut to the grant, which typically makes up around 10% of operating costs, as it changes from subsidising fuel use to being distributed on the basis of bus mileage.

Both First Glasgow, the biggest bus operator in Scotland, and Lothian Buses have protested at the changes, which it was claimed would lead to fare hikes and less profitable routes being cut.

The letter to Mr Brown, signed by Liberal Democrat council leader Jenny Dawe; her SNP deputy leader, Steve Cardownie, and the leaders of the Labour, Tory and Green parties, claims Lothian Buses will suffer an actual cut of 40% to the grant. It also claims that the £3 million set aside by the Scottish Government – which was originally meant to pay for improvements to bus shelters, bus lanes and other infrastructure but is now being used as a "transitional fund" – would not be sufficient.

"While the impact of this decision will vary across different parts of Scotland, the decision to reduce support for bus services will inevitably affect many people across the country that rely on buses day in, day out," the leaders wrote.

The effects of the cuts will mean poorer transport links, an increase in people driving, worsening congestion and pollution, the leaders claimed.

Mr Matheson said: "There is no doubt that cities are the big losers from this change, and Glasgow is hardest hit. The scale of the cut in Glasgow is at 40%, and we are seeing the impact on fares rising on Sunday and routes running for the final time in the next couple of weeks.

"Urban operators use more diesel to drive fewer miles. That is why they will be hit by the change which has been brought in with no consultation."

Mr Brown, who has agreed to hold an emergency meeting on the funding crisis facing the bus industry next Tuesday, declined to comment on the letter from Edinburgh party leaders.

However, a spokesman for him accused Mr Matheson of "political point scoring" ahead of the local elections in May and snubbing an invite to meet with the Transport Minister.

He said: "This is desperate stuff from Mr Matheson who is clearly out of touch and looking to score political points ahead of the local elections. The Transport Minister held a constructive meeting with First Glasgow this week and afterwards a joint statement was issued which contradicts these claims.

"If councillor Matheson is serious about ensuring good bus services for Glasgow and not simply looking to play party political games then he perhaps shouldn't have snubbed the recent invite to meet with the minister."