First Aberdeen will trial rerouting a service away from a notoriously narrow city street following widespread safety concerns.
North East MSP Liam Kerr launched a campaign in July to reverse changes to the number 15 bus route.
The transport operator had opted to re-route the service onto the narrow Countesswell Road.
However, the move sparked fears that cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders would be knocked down by oncoming traffic.
First Aberdeen met with the Conservative MSP and members of Braeside and Mannofield Community Council recently to discuss their concerns.
It came after an image emerged showing a bus mounting a grass verge to allow traffic to pass on the road.
Following further discussions with Aberdeen City Council, the transport operator has now agreed to re-route the service away from the “dangerous” rural street on a trial basis.
The service will use Kirk Brae as an alternative before joining Craigbank Drive in Cults and onto Craigton Road. The route is currently being tested.
Changes bring about an end to safety concerns
Liam Kerr MSP has welcomed the news. He said: “I’m glad First is listening to the community and taking action to reroute the number 15 away from Countesswells Road which so many have said is totally unsuitable for buses.
“We have seen a terrifying number of close calls on the road since the bus service was introduced there in July.
“It’s now imperative First assesses the change to Kirk Brae carefully to ensure that whilst motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders on the Countesswells Road will be safer, the other communities affected by the change are similarly considered.
“This progress shows the power of the community coming together to influence change for the better.”
Residents and representatives previously asked for a number of measures to be adopted to improve safety on the route, including widening the rural section of Countesswells Road and restricting heavy goods vehicles.
New bus route being tested
The council has said an audit into proposed changes to the narrow road would be possible once a new bus route is secured.
In an email to Mr Kerr, the authority said the proposed alterations to the number 15 bus service would help alleviate concerns over safety.
They wrote: “Following a further meeting with First, the bus could possibly be re-routed to avoid the rural section of Countesswells Road, by travelling down Kirk Brae to join up with new bus infrastructure available on Craigbank Drive, Cults, and continuing onto to Craigton Road.
“This route does again require the use of rural roads, however, the width is not quite as constrained as on sections of Countesswells Road, thereby mitigating some of the concerns over the current route.
“First Bus is currently testing the route and we await their feedback.”
A First Aberdeen spokesman said: “We can confirm that we’re in early discussions with key stakeholders on the routing of service 15/15B between the city centre and Countesswells.
“It would be inappropriate to comment any further at the moment while this process is ongoing.”
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