Well that was a lively meeting. There were fireworks at the Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum with accusations and complaints as Stagecoach and council officers heard strongly-held views about local bus services.
More than 40 people, including three Aberdeenshire councillors, attended the public meeting in Mackie Academy. If you would like to be there the next meeting will be in March.
Many of the complaints centred on Stonehaven and the Mearns, but Portlethen and Newtonhill featured as well. Here are some points that caught my attention.
– Stagecoach is to look at why the 7B sits for up to 10 minutes at Marywell when heading to Aberdeen.
– The bus company is to reconsider the routing of services around Berrymuir Road in Portlethen as buses to Aberdeen and Stonehaven head in the same direction around the road, which confuses residents. It would be better if Aberdeen-bound buses and Stonehaven-bound services were on opposite sides of the road.
– Complaints were made about the two-hour gap in afternoon services returning from Aberdeen to Newtonhill.
– We heard about a Muchalls resident who was travelling home from Stonehaven during the evening but was dropped off one evening at Bridge of Muchalls because of road resurfacing on the A90. The next night he was dropped off at Portlethen and had to walk back. The bus driver said that there was no provision for the bus to stop safely. Stagecoach will investigate.
– Stagecoach were asked what plans they have for a service to Chapelton. The meeting was told there are no specific plans at the moment. Currently just over 100 homes are occupied and a request shuttle service to the park and choose at the Newtonhill flyover is available.
– The Muchalls to the park and choose now has a two day a week service (Tuesdays and Thursdays), reduced from three days a week.
– The 103 Cookney / Netherley / Banchory Devenick / Bridge of Dee service (leaves Cookney at 7.20am and returns from Asda at 5.45pm) has been reprieved for now, but it still at risk due to low passenger numbers. The Monday to Friday service is subsidised by the council, costing £19,530 a year.
– There was a complaint that Downies, Old Portlethen and Findon do not have a bus service, but this was refuted by council officers who pointed out there is a dial-a-bus service. Seats must be pre-booked by calling 01467 535 333. The line is open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The service runs on a Thursday during the day from the three villages to Asda, calling at Downies at 10.25am, Old Portlethen at 10.30 and Findon at 10.35. It leaves Asda at 12.30 returning to the villages (Findon at 12.45, Old Portlethen at 12.50, and Downies at 12.55, then going back to Asda at 13.10. The service also calls at Netherley, Cookney and Cammachmore on Thursdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays it connects Muchalls with Asda.
– Complaints were voiced about the long-distance buses not stopping anywhere in Kincardine and Mearns, meaning passengers have to travel into Aberdeen. Suggestions were made about halting at the proposed park and ride at Findon, the current AWPR site at Stonehaven, and the planned interchange at Laurencekirk.
– More complaints too about the bus station in Aberdeen. Not fit for purpose.