Funding Boost to establish new Bus Service

The reduction of bus service in our area has been an on-going concern for a few years now.  Reduced frequency, withdrawal of evening services and eventually the withdrawal of the number 5 service and the re-routing of the number 15 led to a number of angry public meetings with the bus company - First Aberdeen, and local council representatives.

At meeting of Aberdeen Council on Thursday 25 February, Councillor Ross Thomson, Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross, was successful in securing funding to improve the bus service in this community.

His bid for budget funding of £80,000 - £35,000 to support a new evening service and £45,000 for a shuttle bus to support residents in the lower Deeside area - was approved.

The proposed services will reinstate much needed evening transport and access to amenities and services in Mannofield.

Council officials will now draw up a timetable for the provision of the new services and begin the process of defining routes and services, inviting tenders and awarding contracts. This will take some tome, so don't expect the new services immediately.

The Community Council would like to thank Councillor Thomson and our other local Councillors for their efforts in ensuring that the Braeside and Mannofield areas have a bus service that is fit for purpose, and the City council for their financial support to the Community.

Once the new services are in operation it is essential that they are supported and that we, as a community, use the facilities as frequently as possible.  If we don't use them we might lose them.

Councillor Thomson has also confirmed that there is to be a further public meeting to discuss the issues.

The provisional date for that meeting is the 17th March 2016.  Full details of the date, time, and location of the the meeting will circulated in due course.