First stands firm over Kingswells bus service

company won’t change number 14 decision but says other routes will cover area

By Ross Davidson

Published:

The north-east transport giant FirstBus has refused to bow to pressure to retain an Aberdeen bus service, a move which would “cut off” some people in a city suburb.

The transport firm has announced it will stop the number 14 service from Aberdeen to Kingswells as part of changes to routes and timetables across the city.

The end of the Kingswells service, which is due to take place on February 14, has been criticised by the suburb’s residents, who insist the service should be improved, not cancelled.

First last night denied Kingswells would be isolated and insisted it would be serviced by other routes after the 14 service is dropped.

Kingswells Community Council has written to Aberdeen Lord Provost Peter Stephen and claimed First is “driven by motives of greed and profit”. Chairwoman of the community council, Barrie Buchan, said losing the bus service, which runs through to Woodend, would isolate the suburb. Last night she said: “There is a lot of concern for the schoolchildren who go to Hazlehead Academy.

“Although most of the secondary school pupils in Kingswells go to Bucksburn Academy, many go to Hazlehead and without the number 14 service these children will not be able to get to school.

“We are supposed to be trying to use public transport more and our own cars less, but this is driving people in the other direction. There is no doubt this will change people’s lifestyles. A lot of people living in Kingswells do not have a car, including the elderly, and this would effectively cut them off.”

Bob Dorr, managing director of First in Aberdeen, said the number 23 and 40, will also be changed on February 14 to make up for the loss of the number 14 service.

The number 40 park and ride service will travel through Kingswells every 15 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday, and the 23 service will go to Kingswells every evening.

“The level of service between Kingswells and the city centre will remain exactly as it is just now, it will simply be provided by a different service”, he said.

“It is difficult to see how this level of service can be improved, although from February 14 we will be providing Kingswells customers with a new evening service which will link the area to the ARI.”

However he said that they recognised the new service would not run along Queens Road, including to Hazlehead Academy. He added: “We have identified this part of the service as being lightly used and benefiting very few people, and thus will not be served by First's buses.”