On August 31 last year, First Bus announced that the withdrawal of the No:5 and the re-routing of the No:15 service in the Craigiebuckler and Airyhall Communities.
This was on top of a decision by First in 2012 to cease operating an evening service in this community.
The most recent 2015 changes announced reduced frequency, increased journey times for passengers and cut off the residents from the shops at Mannofield due to re-routing. These changes made without any form of consultation were met with real anger within the community.
Scottish Conservative Councillor, Ross Thomson, has lead the community campaign against the changes to the bus service provision within the area. In October 2015 Cllr Thomson organised a public meeting on the issue where there was a massive turn out of around 600 residents, further to this Cllr Thomson ensured a drop in session at Airyhall Library recently to give residents the opportunity to have face-t0face time with First Bus senior management and the Council’s Public Transport Unit to discuss their concerns. Hundreds of local residents turned up to the drop in session seeking an improvement in the local service.
Cllr Thomson has continued to liaise closely with First Bus who have been clear that as a commercial operator they are unlikely to make any improvements.
In today’s Council budget Cllr Thomson has secured essential funding to improve the bus service in this community and to give some of the most isolated residents in the city a life line.
Cllr Thomson’s proposal of £35,000 to support a new evening service and £45,000 for a shuttle bus to support elderly residents in the lower Deeside area to the shops and residents within the Airyhall/Craigiebuckler area to the shops in Mannofield has been approved in today’s budget.
Councillor Ross Thomson said:
“Having led the community campaign against the regressive decision of First Bus to cut local service provision within the area I am delighted that my proposal for the Council to support a new evening service and a new community shuttle bus has been approved. Today is a win for the community.”
“Currently with no evening service provision for residents living in Craigiebuckler the nearest bus service is accessible on Queen’s Road, this is a walk of approximately 920 metres for those residents living furthest away from Queen’s Road. Further, taking into account the typography of the area it is obvious that to travel this distance on foot is difficult for elderly residents, those with mobility problems and those who do not feel safe walking this distance in the dark.”
“The most recent changes have increased both inbound and outbound journey times for passengers making the use of public transport in the area already more difficult than it already is. Further, residents have been entirely cut off from the local shops at Mannofield which many elderly residents in particular depend on for getting messages, for maintaining their independence and getting about, to do simple things such as make a dental or doctor’s appointment.”
“These detrimental changes clearly show that there is an identifiable social need for a supported service in this community. Today I am delighted that my perseverance, determination and campaigning has secured an excellent result for the local community with a new and improved local bus service.”