02/05/2023 - The M.Connect booking app is now live with information available on the Council's social media platforms to encourage people to download the app. More information is available on the Moray News page

13/04/2023
•LIFTANGO to be used for all new/cancellation requests from 14:30 on 14/04/2023.
•Booking window remains at 2 weeks
•All Elgin/Forres journeys on FlexiRoute will be moved to LIFTANGO by PTU.
•M.Connect FAQ's will be kept updated, please refer to these in the 1st instance

23/03/2023 – PTU are on course to complete the move for Buckie. Keith and Speyside bookings from 29/03/2023 (Forres/Elgin bookings will be made by PTU from this date – Advisors will be emailing these to PTU team). Calendar invites will be issued to affected Seniors/Advisors in advance of 29th & 30th. An Email will be issued to affected Seniors/Advisors in advance of training days but due to the tight timescale for script updates it will be sent as ASAP before 29/03/2023. Kindest regards, Donna

20/03/2023 – We are in the process of creating/completing revised scripts which should be available from 29th March 2023. Training is currently scheduled for the 29th & 30th of March and will be carried out online by the new booking platform hosts LIFTANGO to affected Advisors, Seniors, Support Team staff. As well as an online session from LIFTANGO, staff will have a period of time off of calls to book existing Flexiroute journeys onto the new LIFTANGO booking platform. Training dates/times will be confirmed to staff as soon as practically possible.

17/03/2023 – As per Stevie Robertson of PTU Group booking requests are not to be booked after the 17 March 2023, this will ensure any current group bookings or requests will not stretch past 31 March 2023.

10/03/2023 - As per Stevie Robertson in PTU with immediate effect all bookings can only be booked up to 2 weeks rather than 4. As part of managing data migration and avoiding duplication of effort all advisors supporting Current Dial M bookings are to reduce available booking windows from 4 weeks to 2 weeks please. In effect customers can only book journeys up to 2 weeks in advance with immediate effect. If there are any queries with the change, advisors can inform them that we are integrating a new booking platform and we need to manage data for transfer.

DAB Upgrade Update 20/02/2023: 20/02/2023 – Public Transport Team (PTU) have confirmed that they are now moving forward at pace with the new LIFTANDGO booking platform which is expected as follows:

• Late March ’23 - Advisor/Senior training on new LIFTANGO booking platform

• Early April ‘23 - Advisors/Seniors using new LIFTANGO booking platform for customer journeys

• 02/05/2023 - Official launch of LIFTANGO customer booking APP along with rebranding of service from “Dial M for Moray” to “M.Connect”

It is anticipated that Customer Services will see an overview of the new booking platform during the week of 27/02/23. Once we’ve had this we’ll then set to work on reviewing changes needed for scripts along with potential training dates and will keep this news item updated as soon more information is available.

Update 16/02/2023 – next meeting to review progress on the new system to take place via Teams on 21/02/2023. Included in this meeting will be members of the PTU (public transport team), new system providers, ICT & Customer Services (Donna, Emma & Andy). Hopefully after this meeting we will be in a better position to discuss potential training dates for affected Advisors.

As at 23/11/2022, initial testing and trial has now been completed with a number of issues including problems with driver PDA’s & the making of Group Bookings fed back to suppliers for resolution. PTU are due to receive an update from the supplier on or around the 9th December and will keep Customer Services updated as and when possible following this update.

Subject to approval of the new system, the next stages are likely to look like:

January 2023:

PTU to meet with appropriate parties e.g. Customer Services, ICT, new system providers (Lift & Go) to discuss requirements e.g. training, actions

February/March 2023:

Re-branding of from Dial M Moray to M-Connect begins Marketing campaigns begin e.g. press, social media Customer Services receive training (for those taking DAB calls) and start using new booking platform (roll out 1st Speyside, 2nd Buckie, 3rd Keith & 4th Forres)

April 2023:

Launch date for new service branding and customer booking App (Customer Services to be using new booking platform 1 month before launch of App)

NOTE – we are aware of Advisors (involved with DAB) receiving access Emails, please do not take any action with these until advised otherwise but keep them in a safe place in your mailbox. Further updates will be posted here as soon as we have more information to share. Donna, CS Team Leader

Please note Elgin Bus 1 is running late. PTU have arranged for A2B taxi to pick Mrs Findlay up at 1015 and return her home 45 minutes later. Mrs Sylvia Stobbart has been contacted already to advise of delay.

Charlie – PJ is now using Mercedes MWM for remainder of his DRT this morning.

Should the above excess charge notice be paid before close of business on Friday 26 May please accept the reduced charge of £60.00. The driver’s name is Millie Riddoch and her email address is millsdx@hotmail.com.

https://secure.moray.gov.uk/mcalerts/portal/servicestatus.aspx#OpenSpaces

Grass cutting in larger open spaces, schools and playing fields is currently disrupted due to tractor breakdowns.

We are working hard with Fleet to resolve this issue.

Our operational teams are working overtime with smaller ride-on machinery to continue with grass cutting as best we can until tractors are operational again.

Grass cutting will fall behind normal cutting frequencies in some areas across Moray. We will try to prioritise bookable playing fields and school grounds to support sports activities and sports days.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will update the service disruption notice with any changes or further information.

Due to a serious road traffic accident A95 at Ballindalloch trunk road turn off to B9008 Tomintoul Road requiring the trunk road to be resurfaced, major delays are expected for traffic travelling south on the A941. Suggested diversion should be via Forres - A940 - Dava - Grantown-on-Spey.

The A941 between Dufftown square and Crachie (junction with the B9014 and the Huntly/Cabrach road) is closed until further notice.

Local access only.

Update expected 12 May 2023 once investigations have taken place. Please check the service status portal on the website for further updates.

Due to a mechanical breakdown the Waterford Recycling Centre in Forres will be closed until further notice.

There is currently no estimation on when it will reopen.

Update 11/05/2023: The website alert has been taken off now as the site is now open again and operating as normal.

A change has been made the Pip Fault Tracker to allow us to view closure and re-direction reasons on reported faults. This will allow us to update customers with information who call in to chase a fault they have reported or direct them to the correct department/company to contact.

The Waste Team have informed us that some Collection Routes in Buckie are changing.

Affected Routes:
R101 changing to Monday
R102 changing to Tuesday
R104 changing to Thursday
R105 changing to Friday
R107 changing to Tuesday
R110 changing to Friday

In the region of 3,000 letters being hand delivered from this afternoon onwards – there is no schedule other than the order that they’ll be delivered in – when one batch is complete the next will be started in the following order – R107, R110, R101, R102, R104, R105.

Sample letter
Affected Streets

The team will be updating Confirm routes in batches from Tuesday onwards as the letters are delivered

There will be an alert raised on the disruption portal and social media posts along the lines of “Some waste and recycling collection routes in Buckie are going to be changing next week – letters will be delivered to those households affected with details.”

If you have any questions, please raise with your senior in the first instance.