An Aberdeen MSP has called on a major supermarket chain to continue a “vital” bus service amidst plans to axe it due to falling passenger numbers.
Asda is to discontinue the free bus to its Bridge of Dee store from Monday.
Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart has written to Asda bosses urging them to reconsider.
In a letter to chief executive Roger Burnley,he said constituents in the city felt “aggrieved by the decision”, with some expressing a willingness to pay for the service.
But an Asda spokeswoman said that the shop was served by a number of bus routes and that passenger numbers on the shuttle were falling.
Mr Stewart said: “This is a major supermarket chain and they must realise the disrespect they are showing to customers who have been loyal and shopped with them for years, often even decades.
“I hope the CEO sees sense on this and shows Asda values communities and local customers and reverses the decision to cancel the free Bridge of Dee bus.
“A complimentary bus service was a practical way for the store to stay a step ahead and keep customers coming through its doors, but with this decision they may very well see that change rather quickly.”
The Asda spokeswoman said the service was simply not seeing enough use.
“Regular monitoring over the past few months has shown consistent low use of this service, which is why we have made the decision to cancel it with effect from July 9,” she said.
“We appreciate this will be disappointing to the small number of users.”
