First Aberdeen route trials

The Community Council have written to First Aberdeen to voice our concern about their proposed trial re-routing of the No 15 bus service.  Our letter is copied below for your information.  If you are of a similar mind regarding First Aberdeen's plans why not let them know?  Letters can be addressed to The Stakeholder Engagement Officer (Scotland), First Aberdeen Ltd, 395 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5RP.

Dear Sir,

First Aberdeen – Route 15

We noticed an article in last Saturday’s Press and Journal, suggesting that the Number 15 route is to be re-routed on a trial basis.  Firstly, let us say, that we are disappointed that we had to learn of the proposed trial from a report in the press and not, as a “key stakeholder”, directly from First Aberdeen.

We are grateful that, eventually, the company have recognised the risks of using Countesswells Road. We are concerned, however, that there are still safety issues in your proposed trial route and that a large part of the local community, namely the original Countesswells area and Hazelwood, is deprived of a bus service.

Your representative at our site meeting in July, said that one of the principle reasons for using the previous route was to give residents at the new Countesswells development access to the newly built Aldi store. We note, this proposed trial route does not now go anywhere near the Aldi store.

The Community Council, whilst welcoming First Aberdeen no longer using Countesswells Road, continue to have safety concerns about the use of Craigton Road as an alternative.

The width of Craigton Road is similar to that of Countesswells Road, but with a pavement on the south side. This pavement will offer some level of safety to pedestrians and joggers. Cyclist and horse rider safety continues to be a concern as, like Countesswells Road, Craigton Road does not have the width for a bus to pass leaving a 1.5-2m gap. Our previous concern about clearance for buses to pass each other, or other heavy vehicles, also remains.

Craigton Road has one notable advantage over Countesswells Road in that is subject to a 30mph speed limit, so at slower speeds, drivers will have more time to react to oncoming buses.

The current planned trial no longer passes through the communities of Airyhall, (original) Countesswells and Hazelwood, leaving a large number of people without easy access to a bus service. We would be interested to hear what the alternative plan is for servicing these communities. Leaving these area without a bus service is, we believe, totally unacceptable.

With the provision of access to Aldi by the new Countwessells residents no longer an issue, we would, again, suggest that servicing this community is carried out by the extension of the No11 service through the Queens Road corridor.

We published details of the proposed trial in local social media outlets and there has been a great deal of response from residents in the past three days. We have collated many of the responses and included them as an appendix to this letter for your information.

When considering the rerouting of the 15 bus route the Community Council ask that you consider the following

1. Now that there seems to be no imperative to provide access to the Aldi store for the Countesswells development, consider servicing the new Countesswells development by way of the Queen’s Road corridor rather than through Countesswells or Craigton Road.

2. Keep the 15 route “as is” to the point of the Aldi roundabout, which will be used as the turn-about point.

3. If this pilot is to go ahead as publicised, introduce a new or other route to service the transport needs of the Hazelwood and the original Countesswells area.

4. Introduce the concept of community consultation where your customers are asked to give their views on future plans and have them properly considered by the company.

5. The use of Craigton Road will need to be monitored in a similar fashion to Countesswells Road and, if to is considered to increase the risk to other road users, an alternative route be sought.

As always, as “key stakeholders”, we are keen to engage with First Aberdeen to ensure the residents of Braeside and Mannofield Community Council area have an efficient and effective bus service that is fit for purpose

We look forward to your comments.