Residents of an Aberdeen community who feel they have been cut off from the rest of the city by First Bus have been given another chance to voice their concerns with the company’s management next month.
In October, more than 500 residents from the Cragiebuckler area crowded into Airyhall Primary School to meet with city council transport chiefs and the bus firm’s director to discuss changes to bus services in the area.
Recent cuts and alterations to bus routes in Cragiebuckler include the scrapping of evening services, the number 5 service ceasing operations in the area, and the rerouting of the number 15 with an additional loop through Airyhall.
In many cases, this has added extra journey time to those in Cragiebuckler or left many residents feeling isolated from the rest of Aberdeen.
Following October’s meeting, First Bus chiefs agreed to re-examine their services to the Cragiebuckler community. And, on February 13, residents will be given another opportunity to make their concerns heard at a drop-in session at Airyhall Library.
Members of the community will be able to talk face to face with the company’s managing director, David Phillips, as well as First’s operations manager David Adam, and its commercial manager Daniel Laird.
Issues raised at the drop-in session will be considered and discussed at a future public meeting.
Hazlehead councillor Ross Thomson, who chaired the previous meeting, said: “Following my successful public meeting in October and prior to my next, I am pleased that First will be engaging with local residents further for any issues and concerns to be discussed directly with First’s senior management team.
“This is a very welcome step and I hope that local residents will take the opportunity to speak to First directly to make their views known.
“With such a huge turnout at the public meeting, it was impossible for everyone to have the opportunity to ask a question or make a point.
“This provides another opportunity to give feedback prior to our next public meeting, to check on progress from both the council and First Bus.”
The February drop-in session will take place between 11am and 3pm.