A Dundee councillor has called on bus companies to rethink their plans to overhaul services.
West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson said bus users will be hit with a “double whammy” if Xplore Dundee and Stagecoach East Scotland press ahead with their planned changes.
The two companies announced plans this week to make significant changes to their
Mr Macpherson has written to both the managing directors of Stagecoach East Scotland and Xplore Dundee urging them to reconsider the changes.
He said: “I am very concerned by the ‘double whammy’ of the 16 route changing and the 5 now going via Glamis Road.
“This will mean nothing apart from the 9 going west of Glamis Road on Perth Road and nothing at all running west of Tom McDonald Avenue on Perth Road.
“This is a large area of residential housing being affected adversely.”
Mr Macpherson is seeking the council’s support in fighting to retain the services.
He said: “I have told council officers that I would like to see Dundee City Council requesting that the bus operators reconsider the re-routing of the 5 and 16, which will leave quite a number of residents poorly served or with no service at all.
Stagecoach also confirmed this week that it will close its Smeaton Road depot as part of the changes.
More than 100 staff are currently being consulted about the changes.
The company has said that most will be transferred to other depots in Tayside and Fife but that it is not ruling out job losses.
Stagecoach East Scotland managing director Andrew Jarvis said the company wants to protect jobs, maintain services and “ensure a sustainable business for the long term”
He said a falling number of passengers it making some routes too expensive to continue running.
The Courier revealed last month that the firm planned to close the depot having grown concerned by its high operating costs.
