New bus timetables for the Stonehaven-Newtonhill-Portlethen-Aberdeen routes were introduced yesterday (14 October).

Stagecoach’s Bob Hall commented: “Unfortunately (or perhaps even fortunately) our timescale for completing and sending the timetables to the printers slipped dramatically, due mainly to the large response we received for comments on the proposals and the subsequent late changes we made to these proposals.

“This is the first major consultation exercise we have undertaken for many years and I know that we learned many lessons from this that will, hopefully, make future ones better.”

Mr Hall told local councillor Ian Mollison: “I hope that you don’t think the dialogue stops here. I would really appreciate feedback on any aspects of the consultation process and also on the new service. ”

Cllr Mollison commented: “Any change is unsettling, and I hope that once passengers are familiar with the alterations to timings, routings and frequencies, they will be improvements. If not I would urge residents to get in touch with Stagecoach and let them know.

“If anyone has difficulty in obtaining a copy of the new timetable I would be happy to email it to them, if they get in touch.”