Nearly 100 angry pensioners descended on Dundee’s Ashton Hall on Friday afternoon to demand a better bus service.
Councillors and droves of elderly people attended to discuss changes to public transport in the city.
Residents of Dundee’s Maryfield and Woodside wards were set to engage in crunch talks with bosses from Xplore Dundee, but the firm pulled out of the meeting.
Instead, Xplore now intend to take part in a city-wide meeting on October 31.
As The Courier revealed earlier this month, the change-of-heart attracted accusations the firm had “bottled it” from a showdown with frustrated travellers.
Maryfield councillor Lynne Short described the decision as “disrespectful”.
On Friday, Woodside and Maryfield residents met with local representatives for their own meeting to discuss the impact of changes to bus routes in the city.
Community champion Stella Carrington joined pensioners who had been bussed to the meeting in a bus hired from Dundee Transport Museum.
During the heated exchange, Xplore were accused of “putting profits before people” and cutting and changing services which have caused pensioners to “become prisoners in their own homes”.
John Berry, from Dundee City Council’s sustainable transport department, hosted the meeting and said he would refer complaints back to Xplore.
Mr Berry said that he acknowledged residents’ feelings, but said local changes could only be made once national legislation is altered.
One local affected by the changes, Sylvia Anderson said: “Older people want to get out and about and do their shopping.
“But with the changes made it is not easy for them.
“The bus company is making people prisoners in their own homes because of the poor service on offer.”
Irene and Fraser Carmichael travelled from Longforgan for the meeting.
The couple require buses to get them into Dundee for regular voluntary expeditions they undertake.
Their volunteering is now under threat after their bus service was reduced to one bus an hour.
Ms Carmichael said: “We travel to Baxter Park to help with walk groups.
“The buses were once every half hour but now every hour.
“It’s making things difficult.”
A meeting on October 31 will now be held with members of the public and representatives from Xplore Dundee and Stagecoach.
The meeting will be held in Ashton Hall st 12.30pm.
